| The impact of functional fatigue on balance in adolescent girls with different foot arch types |
| Paper ID : 1794-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
|
Forough Moeini *1, Azarr Aghayari2 1دانشگاه تهران 2Payame Noor University - South Tehran Branch |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Functional fatigue induced by physical exertion may compromise dynamic balance, particularly in individuals with foot arch abnormalities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of functional fatigue on dynamic balance in female adolescents aged 15–18 years with normal, flat, and high-arched feet. Methods: Foot arch type was assessed using the navicular drop test. Forty-five female students were purposively and randomly assigned to three groups (n=15 each): (1) normal arch, (2) flat arch, and (3) high arch. Pre- and post-fatigue dynamic balance was measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). A standardized functional fatigue protocol consisting of 20 minutes of activity across seven stations was administered. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE; Borg Scale) was recorded before Station 1, after Station 3, and immediately after Station 7 to quantify fatigue levels. Paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-fatigue SEBT scores within groups, while one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Scheffé tests were employed to examine between-group differences in balance changes, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Significant declines in SEBT performance were observed in all three groups following the fatigue protocol (p < 0.05). Post-hoc Scheffé analysis revealed that the mean difference between pre- and post-fatigue SEBT scores was significantly greater in the flat arch and high arch groups compared to the normal arch group (p < 0.05), indicating a more pronounced balance impairment in individuals with foot arch abnormalities. Conclusion: Functional fatigue significantly impairs dynamic balance in adolescent girls with flat or high arches more than in those with normal arches. These findings suggest that corrective interventions for foot arch anomalies and targeted physical conditioning programs should be implemented to enhance neuromuscular control and reduce injury risk in this population. |
| Keywords |
| functional Fatigue, girl students, static balance, dynamic balance, flat foot |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
