Fatigue does not increase limb asymmetry or induce proximal joint power shift in habitual, multi-speed runners

Abstract

During prolonged jogging, joint moment and work tend to decrease in the distal (ankle) joint but increase at proximal (hip/knee) joints as performance fatigue manifests, and such adaptations might be expected to occur in sprinting. Fatigue is also thought to increase inter-limb asymmetries, which is speculated to influence injury risk. However, the effects of fatigue on sprint running gait have been incompletely studied, so these hypotheses remain untested. Using statistical parametric mapping, we compared 3-D kinematics and ground reaction force production between the dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) legs of 13 soccer players during both non-fatigued and fatigued sprint running. Contrary to the tested hypotheses, relative between-leg differences were greater in non-fatigued than fatigued sprinting. DL generated higher propulsive impulse due to increased ankle work, while NDL exhibited greater vertical impulse, potentially due to greater hip flexion prior to downward foot acceleration. Whilst few changes were detected in DL once fatigued, NDL shifted towards greater horizontal force production, largely resulting from an increase in plantar flexion (distal-joint) moments and power. After fatiguing running, inter-limb asymmetry was reduced and no distal-to-proximal shift in joint work was detected. These adaptations may attenuate decreases in running speed whilst minimising injury risk.