Lecture 6 - Measuring & Evaluating fatigue in sports perfromance

Question 1

How can the manipulation of rest and set structure influence level of fatigue?

Answer 1

• fatigue level can be increased.
• even though the density/ load lifted during a session in the same because the rest may have been removed, or a single set has become a tri-set this increases the fatigue.

Question 2

What should, and should not be done if an athlete has neuromuscular fatigue, demonstrated in the lower body?

Answer 2

• Should not sprint as that is the currently fatigued system.
• Should work another system e.g. upper body resistance.

Question 3

What is a problem with compression garments and markers of injury?

Answer 3

• CK stands as a marker of cell structural damage.
• Compression garments improve the venous return which can result in a faster RD of the CK
• This could be seen as bad because the compression garment can reduce the measurable effect of damage, leading to easier return to training and subsequent injury.

Question 4

What can excessive (Chronic fatigue ) result in or cause?

Answer 4

• Increased chance of injury.

Question 5

If training is to hard, adequate or not hard enough what can this do to adaptation.

Answer 5

• If two hard fatigue last longer and adaption window is missed
• If too easy fatigue is not great enough and adaptation can not occur
• If correct fatigue is correct and there is a super compensation response.

Question 6

How can you measure fatigue

Answer 6

• Neuromuscular function (CMJ, force/power)
• Biochemical markers (CK, Testosterone)
• Perception of effort
• Athlete wellbeing (soreness, fatigue, mood, sleep quality)
• Testing

Question 7

What can be an indication of fatigue?

Answer 7

• Increased perception of effort

Question 8

What are the causes of Transient, acute and chronic fatigue?

Answer 8

• Transient - acidosis, substrate depletion, electrolyte disturbance, dehydration.
• Acute - Micro trauma from eccentric actions, blunt trauma from tackles.
• Chronic - Inadequate recovery, Excessive training and playing volume/ load, external factors.

Question 9

How can changing a session change the level of fatigue placed on an athlete.

Answer 9

• In rugby for example if contact is removed from training the players subconsciously upregulate there training intensity, which can lead to higher levels of fatigue where they may not have been before.

Question 10

What are transient , acute and chronic fatigue by products of ?

Answer 10

• Transient and acute fatigue are by products of good training
• Chronic fatigue is a by products of poorly controlled training cycles/ programs.

Question 11

What is fatigue?

Answer 11

• Failure to maintain the required or expected force ( or power output

Question 12

What are the three types of fatigue?

Answer 12

• Transient - Inability to produce a desire output during or immediately after exercise. (Reduced performance)
• Acute - Fatigue felt up to 72hours after exercise has ended. (Weakness after training)
• Chronic - An unexplained reduction in performance that lasts for an extended period of time despite the adequate rest, nutrition.

Question 13

What is issue with taking CK measurements for fatigue.

Answer 13

• CK can change by 50% between days

- However in an injury CK levels increase by 200% so a 50% change between days would not matter then.

Question 14

Do changes in CK relate to performance?

Answer 14

• No, it only relates to structural damage of the cell.

Question 15

What is a marker in the blood that indicated structural damage and the presence of fatigue.

Answer 15

• Creatine kinase (CK)

Question 16

How can exercise selection be important when considering specific fatigue.

Answer 16

• Specific exercise can chronically fatigue athletes in the movement patterns that are similar to it. For example, somebody who does lots of squats may notice a reduction in their CMJ performance, however there could be no change at all in their sprinting capacity.