Influence of Fatigue on the Modification of Biomechanical Parameters in Endurance Running: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Fatigue accumulated during the practice of endurance running can be understood as the decrease in sports performance caused by physical exertion. Since fatigue can manifest itself in multiple ways, its influence is difficult to understand, and many authors propose different studies with the aim of obtaining firm conclusions. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effect of fatigue on the modification of biomechanical parameters to mitigate adverse effects and optimize positive adaptations to training. A systematic review was carried out using scientific research papers from specific sport science databases in advanced search dated 02/2023. This systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Eligibility criteria were established according to the PICO (Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) strategy. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the publications. Twelve papers were analyzed, with a median PEDro score of 8.0, including 375 participants. The main results show that fatigue affects biomechanical parameters in endurance running, especially untrained athletes. Fatigue affects the biomechanical parameters of running and consequently triggers a decrease in sports performance. There is controversy among authors on the modification of some biomechanical parameters. The proposal of new measurement sensors can be a success to monitor the evolution of fatigue. The dominant mechanism for the perception of fatigue is neuromuscular fatigue. There are differences between trained and untrained runners.