The rapid recovery of vertical force propulsion production and postural sway after a specific fatigue protocol in female basketball athletes

Abstract

Background: Muscle fatigue is characterized by decreased muscle performance, accompanied by increased perceived exertion to produce a desired amount of force. The duration of the fatigue effects is not completely clear regarding postural sway and force production in athletes. Methods: Twenty female basketball athletes participated in this study. Specific basketball action composed the fatigue protocol in a circuit format with the gradual increment of laps. They stood upright in a one-leg posture on a force plate. For the maximum propulsion force (FMAX), they performed a countermovement jump on the force plate. The center of pressure (COP) and the FMAX were obtained at baseline, immediately after the exhaustion due to the fatigue protocol, and every minute during the first 10 min of the recovery phase. Results: The FMAX decreased ∼by 9.5% after the fatigue protocol, whereas de COP area increased by 224%. During the recovery phase, the FMAX and the COP area returned to baseline values after five minutes. Conclusion: The first five minutes immediately after the fatigue protocol represents the time interval where the fatigue effects are still present. Future studies willing to investigate the effects of fatigue in athletes should perform the analysis within this short time window.