Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete

Background: Great physical requirements are necessary to maintain the entire body in a streamlined and aerodynamic position during downhill skiing. Balance control has an important role in alpine skiing and depends on muscle endurance and strength. The central processing of proprioception and the fo...

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Main Authors: Javier Riscart-López, Elena Jiménez-Herranz, Isabel Mendoza-Puente, Miguel Ángel Rosety-Rodríguez, Jorge Bastos-García, Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet, Juan José Ramos-Álvarez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/679
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author Javier Riscart-López
Elena Jiménez-Herranz
Isabel Mendoza-Puente
Miguel Ángel Rosety-Rodríguez
Jorge Bastos-García
Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet
Juan José Ramos-Álvarez
author_facet Javier Riscart-López
Elena Jiménez-Herranz
Isabel Mendoza-Puente
Miguel Ángel Rosety-Rodríguez
Jorge Bastos-García
Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet
Juan José Ramos-Álvarez
author_sort Javier Riscart-López
collection DOAJ
description Background: Great physical requirements are necessary to maintain the entire body in a streamlined and aerodynamic position during downhill skiing. Balance control has an important role in alpine skiing and depends on muscle endurance and strength. The central processing of proprioception and the force capacity of muscle are altered by fatigue. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of fatigue and visual input on balance control in alpine skiing. Methods: Eleven male professional skiers participated in the study. Balance control with eyes open and eyes closed was assessed before and after performing a maximal effort specific alpine ski test. Variables: the total travel distance (TTD) (mm), radial area (RA) (mm<sup>2</sup>), ratio between TTD and RA (TTD/RA) (1/mm), mean center of pressure (COP) velocity (total length of the COP path per unit time) (mm/s), the mean mediolateral (ML) COP oscillation velocity (Lat_Vel) (mm/s), the mean anteroposterior (AP) COP oscillation velocity (AP_Vel) (mm/s), mean ML (MLD) (mm) and mean AP (APD) (mm) displacements of the COP and the distance from the ordinate origin (mean X and mean Y) (theoretical point where the COP should be) to the point at which the COP is located, and heart rate were measured. Results: The results showed differences in the variables related to postural control and balance before and after the stress test (<i>p</i> = 0.002–0.037). However, no differences were found when the results obtained with open and closed eyes were compared. Conclusions: The results showed that performance in alpine skiing could be negatively affected by fatigue. However, the dynamic parameters are not decreased by visual input during muscle fatigue.
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spelling doaj-art-5ff007b101514dcfaf3780bbef5bdd5c2025-08-20T03:14:46ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-04-0115567910.3390/life15050679Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing AthleteJavier Riscart-López0Elena Jiménez-Herranz1Isabel Mendoza-Puente2Miguel Ángel Rosety-Rodríguez3Jorge Bastos-García4Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet5Juan José Ramos-Álvarez6Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainSchool of Sport Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainSchool of Sport Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainDepartment of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainDepartment of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Cádiz, 11009 Cádiz, SpainSchool of Sport Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainBackground: Great physical requirements are necessary to maintain the entire body in a streamlined and aerodynamic position during downhill skiing. Balance control has an important role in alpine skiing and depends on muscle endurance and strength. The central processing of proprioception and the force capacity of muscle are altered by fatigue. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of fatigue and visual input on balance control in alpine skiing. Methods: Eleven male professional skiers participated in the study. Balance control with eyes open and eyes closed was assessed before and after performing a maximal effort specific alpine ski test. Variables: the total travel distance (TTD) (mm), radial area (RA) (mm<sup>2</sup>), ratio between TTD and RA (TTD/RA) (1/mm), mean center of pressure (COP) velocity (total length of the COP path per unit time) (mm/s), the mean mediolateral (ML) COP oscillation velocity (Lat_Vel) (mm/s), the mean anteroposterior (AP) COP oscillation velocity (AP_Vel) (mm/s), mean ML (MLD) (mm) and mean AP (APD) (mm) displacements of the COP and the distance from the ordinate origin (mean X and mean Y) (theoretical point where the COP should be) to the point at which the COP is located, and heart rate were measured. Results: The results showed differences in the variables related to postural control and balance before and after the stress test (<i>p</i> = 0.002–0.037). However, no differences were found when the results obtained with open and closed eyes were compared. Conclusions: The results showed that performance in alpine skiing could be negatively affected by fatigue. However, the dynamic parameters are not decreased by visual input during muscle fatigue.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/679skibalance controlpostural balancefatiguemaximum effort
spellingShingle Javier Riscart-López
Elena Jiménez-Herranz
Isabel Mendoza-Puente
Miguel Ángel Rosety-Rodríguez
Jorge Bastos-García
Manuel Rodríguez-Huguet
Juan José Ramos-Álvarez
Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete
Life
ski
balance control
postural balance
fatigue
maximum effort
title Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete
title_full Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete
title_fullStr Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete
title_short Effects of Acute Fatigue on Balance Control of Alpine Skiing Athlete
title_sort effects of acute fatigue on balance control of alpine skiing athlete
topic ski
balance control
postural balance
fatigue
maximum effort
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/679
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