Peripheral and central fatigue cause similar decreases on dynamic postural stability in male recreational runners

Abstract

Decreased dynamic postural stability could be linked to a great number of injuries. Moreover, fatigue -both central and peripheral- may diminish dynamic postural stability and have an impact on injuries. Therefore, the main objectives of our study were to identify and compare the effects of central and peripheral fatigue on dynamic postural stability. The Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) in anterior, posterolateral and posteromedial directions was performed in eighteen male recreational runners before and after a central or peripheral fatigue protocol. Central fatigue was induced by a 30-minute run at 85% of maximal aerobic speed on a treadmill, while a localized fatigue protocol in quadriceps and hamstrings muscles using an isokinetic dynamometer was performed to cause peripheral fatigue. Our results indicate that the maximum and average reached distance in anterior, posterolateral, posteromedial and summation of three directions were decreased by both central and peripheral fatigue (p < 0.001). Moreover, mSEBT performance did not show significant differences between type of fatigue (peripheral vs central) (p > 0.05). Thus, dynamic postural stability was decreased by peripheral and central fatigue in recreational runners, and both have similar effects on mSEBT performance.