Fatigue characteristics of champion power and endurance athletes during force estimation

This study examined the effect of fatigue on the hand flexor muscles. Sixty University Champion athletes in either power or endurance events were used as subjects for the study. For each group there were thirty subjects (Male N=15, Females N=15). Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) were measured followed by force estimation at 25%, 50% and 75% of the MVC. Fatigue was induced in the hand flexor muscles and subjects repeated the force estimation trials at the three levels. Results showed that the Power athletes force estimation were significantly higher than that for the endurance athletes at all the three levels of estimation. It was further found that as the level of force estimation increases so did the variability irrespective of type of athlete. In addition, it was found that the force estimation for endurance athletes was less than that for power athletes at the 75% level. Fatigue resulted in a decrement in force estimation for both power and endurance athletes at the three levels of estimation. It was also found that while endurance athletes were consistent at low level of force estimation, power athletes were more consistent at the high level of estimation.