Author(s): BORGMANN, K., MÜHLBAUER, T., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF DUISBURG-ESSEN, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 869

INTRODUCTION:
In young adults, there is evidence that free arm movements do not help to compensate muscle fatigue-induced deteriorations in dynamic balance performance. However, the postural control system in children and adolescents is immature, and as a result, the use of arm movements may provide a compensatory ‘upper body strategy’ to correct fatigue-related balance impairments. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of free versus restricted arm movements on dynamic balance performance prior and following exercise-induced muscle fatigue.
METHODS:
Twenty-one healthy children (9 females; mean age: 11.1 ± 0.7 years) and 22 adolescents (10 females; mean age: 14.6 ± 0.8 years) performed the Y Balance Test – Lower Quarter before and immediately after a fatiguing exercise (i.e., repetitive vertical bipedal box jumps until failure) using two different arm positions: free (move the arms freely) and restricted (keep the arms akimbo) arm movement. The fatigue protocol involved metronome-paced box jumps, with participants instructed to jump until failure. Perceived exertion was recorded using the Borg scale.
RESULTS:
Muscle fatigue and restriction of arm movement resulted in significantly deteriorated dynamic balance performance. However, the interaction between the two did not reach the level of significance.
CONCLUSION:
Our findings indicate that the use of an ‘upper body strategy’ (i.e., free arm position) has no compensatory effect on muscle fatigue-induced dynamic balance deteriorations in children and adolescents.