Effects of triceps surae fatigue and weight training level on gait variability and local stability in young adults

Muscle fatigue negatively affects gait, and the changes in gait pattern due to muscle fatigue is influenced by which muscles are fatigued and pre-existing physical activity levels. However, how these factors alter gait stability and variability, measures related to risk of fall, remains unclear. To explore how muscular fatigue affects linear and nonlinear gait features in young adults, the effects of triceps surae fatigue and weight training level on gait variability and local stability, as well as a 12-min recovery time of post-fatigue period, were evaluated in young adults (trained and untrained groups). Some features were estimated, i.e., (i) step length (SL) and step frequency (SF), (ii) average standard deviation of trunk acceleration along strides (VAR), and (iii) local dynamic stability (LDS; maximum Lyapunov exponent). LDS presented a significant increase in the anterior-posterior direction with recovery to trained group. SL and SF changed immediately post-fatigue and recovered for both groups, while VAR increased significantly in all directions, with a recovery in the vertical direction for both groups and in the medial-lateral direction for trained group. Localized fatigue affected the analyzed gait variables independent of the participant's training condition, and an interval of 12 min does not seem to be enough for a complete recovery, suggesting a longer recovery period after tasks involving localized triceps surae fatigue to guarantee basal levels of gait variability and local stability. Graphical abstract Flow chart of the experimental protocol. A) Pre-fatigue: 4 min walking at PWS. B) Post-fatigue: first 4 min walking after fatigue protocol. C) Post-fatigue: second 4 min walking after fatigue protocol. D) Post-fatigue: third 4 min walking after fatigue protocol (PWS, preferred walking speed; AP, anterior-posterior; V, vertical; ML, medial-lateral).