The Influence of Fatigue on Star Excursion Balance Test Performance in Dancers

Abstract

Dance is associated with a high risk of injury and fatigue is often a contributing factor. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used to identify alterations in normal movement that may contribute to injury risk; however, there has been limited investigation of the potential effects of fatigue. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of dance-specific fatigue on SEBT performance, with implications for injury and performance in dance. Thirty-five university dancers completed the modified SEBT in anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions prior to and immediately following the Dance Aerobic Fitness Test (DAFT). The SEBT was completed for dominant and non-dominant legs. Heart rate and rate of perceived exertion were quantified as measures of fatigue. Post-DAFT, the mean SEBT percentage maximized reach distances for dominant and nondominant legs were non-significant compared to pre-DAFT scores. Lack of a main effect for exercise was observed in each of the anterior dominant and non-dominant, posterolateral dominant and non-dominant, and posteromedial dominant and non-dominant scores. It is concluded that the limited changes in the ability of dancers to perform the SEBT suggest that they were able to maintain SEBT performance in both dominant and non-dominant legs following exercise. This resistance to fatigue may demonstrate a dance-specific performance adaptation so that potential alterations in movement performance that may increase injury risk were not observed.

The effect of fatigue on asymmetry between lower limbs in functional performances in elite child taekwondo athletes

“…An interesting result is that the PL reach distance increased by 2.17% post fatigue in the non-dominant leg ( Table 5). Similar results were reported by Armstrong et al [42] when examining the effect of fatigue on SEBT performance among university dancers. According to the authors, the increased reach distance might be related to the distinct characteristics of the dance sport as the dancers may have distinct and variable kinematic strategies to maintain or facilitate the SEBT performance under the fatigued condition [42].…”

“…Furthermore, the PM reach distance significantly decreased post fatigue only when using the dominant leg for support (Table 3), which also supported this view. Previous findings have indicated that the reach distances in SEBT were associated with the kinematics [42] and kinetics [43,44] of the supporting leg. Therefore, the greater decrement of reach distance post fatigue when using the dominant leg for support may indicate a higher fatigue rate in the dominant leg.…”

The Effect of Fatigue on Asymmetry Between Lower Limbs in Functional Performances in Elite Child Taekwondo Athletes

“…An interesting result is that the PL reach distance increased by 2.17% post fatigue in the non-dominant leg. Similar results were reported by Armstrong et al [41] when examining the effect of fatigue on SEBT performance among university dancers. According to the authors, the increased reach distance might be related to the distinct characteristics of the dance sport as the dancers may have distinct and variable kinematic strategies to maintain or even facilitate the SEBT performance under the fatigued condition [41].…”

“…Similar results were reported by Armstrong et al [41] when examining the effect of fatigue on SEBT performance among university dancers. According to the authors, the increased reach distance might be related to the distinct characteristics of the dance sport as the dancers may have distinct and variable kinematic strategies to maintain or even facilitate the SEBT performance under the fatigued condition [41]. In the present study, although the PL reach distance increased with fatigue (2.17%) in the nondominant leg, this data should be used with caution in practice, due to the SD (8.04%) was much higher than the mean.…”

“…Furthermore, the PM reach distance signi cantly decreased post fatigue only when using the dominant leg for support, which also supported this view. Previous ndings have indicated that the reach distances in SEBT were associated with the kinematics [41] and kinetics [42,43] of the supporting leg. Therefore, the greater decrement of reach distance post fatigue when using the dominant leg for support may indicate a higher fatigue rate in the dominant leg.…”