The change in postural control in highly trained trail runners following a short, competitive, off-road time trial

Date
2023-03
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research on acute effects of trail running (TR) induced fatigue and postural control (PC) in highly trained trail runners is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure the change in select postural control variables following a short, real-world, trail run time trail (26km; +900m) in a sample of highly trained trail runners. Thirteen (N=13) male, highly trained trail runners (age: 30.00  5.58 years old; weekly running: 65.00  6.45 kilometres) participated in this study. Participants completed five postural control system (PCS) tests before and after a short, real-world, TR time trial (26km +900m ascent). Balance tests included a Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance (MCTSIB), Single Leg Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance (SLMCTSIB) and a Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Postural sway and sway frequencies were measured via a Gyko Inertial Measurement Unit (Microgate, Italy) during four different stance conditions; firm surface with eyes open (FO), firm surface with eyes closed (FC), compliant surface with eyes open (CO), and compliant surface with eyes closed (CC). Jump tests included a Countermovement Jump Test (CMJ) and Single-Leg Countermovement Jump test (SLCMJ). Jump height and flight time were measured using OptoJump (Microgate, Italy) and two Logitech web cameras (30 fps). Tests for normality were performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. A combination of paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to identify differences in mean scoresbefore and after the time trial (significance flagged as p<0.05). Statistically significant increases (p<0.05) in mediolateral sway were observed in stance conditions FO, FC and CC while anteroposterior sway showed significant increases (p<0.05) for stance conditions FO, and CO during the MCTSIB. A statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in mediolateral sway was observed in the SLMCTSIB for the FO stance condition. A significant decrease in reach length was observed during the SEBT in the anterior movement only (p<0.05) and only on the right foot. No statistically significant changes (p>0.05) were observed for maximal and mean jump height and time for CMJ. However, statistically significant decrements (p<0.05) were found for all variables during the SLCMJ test. This study's key finding was that significant changes in select PC variables were observed following a short TR time trial. In conclusion, it appears general TR-induced fatigue negatively impacts PC regulation following a 26km (+900m) trail run time trial. However, a combination of training status, task experience and compensatory strategies appear to limit the magnitude that general neuromuscular fatigue can have on PC regulation. A greater contribution from cognitive resources such as increased awareness and attentional demand could improve sensory detection capabilities needed to identify optimal balance demands via proprioceptive sensory sources. Future studies should measure trail runners of varying training statuses to better understand this phenomenon.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing oor die akute gevolge van velsdwedloop atlete (VA)-geïnduseerde moegheid en postuurbeheer (PB) op hoogs opgeleide veldwedloop atlete is skaars. Daarom was die doel van hierdie studie om die verandering in uitgesoekte PB-veranderlikes voor en na 'n kort (<42.2km), mededingende VA-tydtoets (26km; +900m) in 'n groep hoogs opgeleide veldwedloop atlete te bepaal. Dertien (N=13) manlike, hoogs opgeleide veldwedloop atlete (ouderdom: 30.00  5.58 jaar oud; weeklikse hardloop afstand: 65.00  6.45 kilometer) het aan hierdie studie deelgeneem. Deelnemers het vyf posturale beheerstelsel (PBS) toetse voltooi voor en na 'n kort, werklike, VA-tydtoets (26km +900m styging). Balanstoetse het 'n Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance (MCTSIB), Single Leg Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance (SLMCTSIB) en ‘n Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) ingesluit. Posturale swaai- en swaaifrekwensies is gemeet via 'n Gyko Inertial Measurement Unit (Microgate, Italy) tydens vier verskillende houdingstoestande; ferm oppervlak met oë oop (FO), ferm oppervlak met oë toe (FT), voldoenende oppervlak met oë oop (VO) en voldoenende oppervlak met oë toe (VT). Springtoetse het 'n teenbeweging-springtoets (TBS) en enkelbeen-teenbeweging-springtoets (EBJBS) ingesluit. Springhoogte en vlugtyd is gemeet met OptoJump (Micorgate, Italië) en twee Logitech-webkameras (30 fps). Toetse vir normaliteit is uitgevoer met behulp van die Shapiro-Wilk-toets. ’n Kombinasie van gepaarde steekproewe t-toetse en Wilcoxon-tekenrangtoetse is gebruik om verskille in gemiddelde tellings voor en na die tydtoets te identifiseer (statistiese betekenisvolheid is op p<0.05 gestel). Statisties beduidende toenames (p<0.05) in mediolaterale swaai is waargeneem in houdingstoestande FO, FT en VT, terwyl anteroposterior swaai beduidende verhogings (p<0.05) getoon het vir houdingstoestande FO, en VO tydens die MCTSIB. 'n Statisties betekenisvolle toename (p<0.05) in mediolaterale swaai is waargeneem in die SLMCTSIB vir die FO houding toestand. 'n Beduidende afname in reiklengte is tydens die SEBT waargeneem slegs in die anterior beweging (p<0.05) en slegs op die regtervoet. Geen statisties betekenisvolle veranderinge (p>0.05) is waargeneem vir maksimum en gemiddelde springhoogte en tyd vir CMJ nie. Statisties betekenisvolle afnames (p<0.05) is egter gevind vir alle veranderlikes tydens die SLCMJ-toets. Die hoofbevinding van hierdie studie was dat betekenisvolle veranderinge in uitgesoekte PBS-veranderlikes waargeneem is na 'n kort VA tydtoets. Ten slotte, dit blyk dat algemene veldwedloop-geïnduseerde moegheid 'n negatiewe impak op rekenaarregulering het na 'n 26km (+900m) tydtoets. 'n Kombinasie van opleidingstatus, taakervaring en kompenserende strategieë blyk egter die omvang te beperk wat algemene neuromuskulêre moegheid kan hê oor rekenaarregulering. 'n Groter bydrae van kognitiewe hulpbronne soos verhoogde bewustheid en aandagvraag kan sensoriese opsporingsvermoëns verbeter wat nodig is om optimale balanseise via proprioseptiewe sensoriese bronne te identifiseer. Toekomstige studies moet veldwedloop atlete met verskillende opleidingstatusse meet om hierdie verskynsel beter te verstaan.
Description
Thesis (M Sport Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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