EFFECT OF FATIGUE ON DYNAMIC BALANCE AFTER MAXIMUM INTENSITY CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Abstract

Cross-country skiing stresses most of the joints, muscles and tendons in the body giving an overall workout. Skiing requires aerobic and anaerobic power, muscular strength and a variety of complex motor abilities including reaction time, agility, balance, coordination and attention demands (Emily & Arthur, 1989). Muscular fatigue is a key factor which can influence performance via impaired joint proprioception and postural control. Fatigue alters the force generation capacity of the muscle and ultimately leads to task failure (Mahyar et al, 2007). Injury risk increases as time duration of the skiing increases (Smith, Matheson & Meeuwisse, 1996). The maintenance of body posture and balance is an essential requirement for performance of daily tasks and sporting activities. Thus fatigue could affect a skier’s performance through an effect on balance. Fast starts at the beginning of races and short intense efforts required for ascending hills could result in periods of fatigue that could affect balance and performance. Hence fatigue may either result in injury or affect the finish time of the skiers. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate how dynamic balance of the skiers can be influenced by fatigue states following maximum exercise