Does induced fatigue alter dynamic balance in athletes? A systematic review.

Objectives: To determine the influence of induced fatigue on dynamic balance in healthy athletes.

Design: Systematic review.

Data sources: PUBMED, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Sports Discus, and the Cochrane library from onset to May 28, 2019.

Eligibility criteria: Eligible studies included any study examining the effects of induced-fatigue on dynamic balance, as measured by the SEBT/YBT, in healthy athletic populations. Studies with a low risk of bias were considered scientifically admissible for a best evidence synthesis.

Results: Fifteen studies with low risk of bias were included - seven investigated recreational athletes while eight focused on competitive athletes. In the recreational population, five of the studies found significant decrease in dynamic balance following the fatiguing intervention. However, the remaining two concluded with insignificant changes. As for the competitive population, three studies showed significant effects of induced fatigue on dynamic balance, while five showed no effects.

Conclusion: There are conflicting results regarding the effects of induced fatigue on dynamic balance. The majority of studies focused on competitive athletes found that fatigue did not alter their dynamic balance. Per contra, the majority of studies focused on recreational athletes concluded the opposite - fatigue did indeed affect dynamic balance.