Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete

Abstract

Background: Great physical requirements are necessary to maintain the entire body in a streamlined and aerodynamic position during downhill skiing. Balance control has an important role in alpine skiing and depends on muscle endurance and strength. The central processing of proprioception and the force capacity of muscle are altered by fatigue. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of fatigue and visual input on balance control in alpine skiing.

Methods: Eleven male professional skiers participated in the study. Balance control with eyes open and eyes closed was assessed before and after performing a maximal effort specific alpine ski test.

Variables: the total travel distance (TTD) (mm), radial area (RA) (mm²), ratio between TTD and RA (TTD/RA) (1/mm), mean center of pressure (COP) velocity (total length of the COP path per unit time) (mm/s), the mean mediolateral (ML) COP oscillation velocity (Lat_Vel) (mm/s), the mean anteroposterior (AP) COP oscillation velocity (AP_Vel) (mm/s), mean ML (MLD) (mm) and mean AP (APD) (mm) displacements of the COP and the distance from the ordinate origin (mean X and mean Y) (theoretical point where the COP should be) to the point at which the COP is located, and heart rate were measured.

Results: The results showed differences in the variables related to postural control and balance before and after the stress test (p = 0.002-0.037). However, no differences were found when the results obtained with open and closed eyes were compared.

Conclusions: The results showed that performance in alpine skiing could be negatively affected by fatigue. However, the dynamic parameters are not decreased by visual input during muscle fatigue.

Keywords: balance control; fatigue; maximum effort; postural balance; ski.

Figure 1

Flowchart of the experimental setup.