Author and graduation date: Laura Lee JENKINS, August, 1997

Committee members: Denise Wiksten (Chair), Roger W. Simmons, Gene G. Lamke

Thesis title: The Effect of Muscular Fatigue on Balance in College-Age Male Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of muscular fatigue on dynamic balance scores on two groups of college-age athletic males. Thirty-four intercollegiate soccer players with a mean age of 20.4 + 2.3 years and 9.3 + 4.5 years of soccer experience were recruited as subjects. The subjects received two practice trials prior to the pretest to become familiar with the balance platform. Each subject was pretested for dynamic balance and randomized into one of two groups. Seventeen subjects were fatigued on a Monark Exercise Cycle for 12-15 minutes using the Ratings of Perceived Exertion scale (RPE). Posttest dynamic balance scores were collected and compared to 17 subjects in a control group. Balance scores were collected on a Kinesthetic Ability Training (KAT) platform and analyzed by a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. The intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated between practice trial #2 and the pretest score at R = .86, suggesting stability of the pretest balance response. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated no significant group effect (F(1, 32) = .39; p = .535), no significant time effect (F(1, 32) = .18; p = .674), and no significant interaction (F(1, 32) = 3.42; p = .074). The results indicate that fatigue does no affect balance scores in the population used for this study. An interaction occurred between the pretest and posttest balance testing for the two groups; however, this was non-significant. It is possible the subjects were not truly fatigued, and the treatment did not result in decreased balance ability. However, it is more likely a visual feedback loop allowed the fatigued subjects to correct for balance error after the termination of the exercise bout. Additional studies need to be conducted using visual feedback during static and dynamic balance. It is also recommended that careful consideration be given on the method used to fatigue subjects.

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