A study on the effects of general fatigue on head and neck proprioception in healthy young adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is one of the factors causing disturbance in proprioception which can be manifested in two ways: general and local. Due to the important role of cervical proprioception on body stability and posture, research on the effects of general fatigue on proprioception helps to better understand its mechanism and to improve the strategies to prevent injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the effects of general fatigue on head and neck proprioception in young healthy adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This clinical study was done by implementing pre- and post-test measurements in 112 young healthy subjects aged between 18-30 years and able to walk at a speed of 10Km for 5 minutes. They were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. The patients in the control (not exposed to a general fatigue task) and experimental (exposed to a general fatigue task) groups were matched for age, height and weight. In the first step, the zero absolute reposition angle of the head and neck was measured in all participants. Then the subjects in the experimental group did a five-minute run on the treadmill to achieve the level of general fatigue, following which the head and neck reproduction angle was measured in all subjects for the second time. RESULTS: There was a statistical significant difference between pre- and post-test absolute angular error in the experimental group; however, there was no noticeable difference between the pre- and post-test data in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: 1. General fatigue increased the repositioning angular error of head and neck. 2. Neck proprioception decreased due to general fatigue. 3. General fatigue increased the risk of neck injury.