Effect of knee extensors muscles fatigue on bilateral force accuracy, variability, and coordination

The aim of this study was to test the effect of fatigue of the knee extensors muscles on bilateral force control accuracy, variability, and coordination in the presence and absence of visual feedback. Twenty-two young physically active subjects (18 males, 4 females) were divided into two groups and performed 210 submaximal sustained bilateral isometric contractions of knee extensors muscles with and without visual feedback. One group performed a symmetrical task-both legs were set at identical positions (60° knee flexion)-while the other group performed an asymmetrical task (60° and 30° knee flexion). We used the framework of the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis to quantify two variance components: one of them did not change total force (V_UCM), while the other did (V_ORT). Performance of bilateral isometric contractions reduced voluntary and electrically induced force without changes in bilateral force control variability and accuracy. Bilateral force production stability and accuracy were higher in both tasks with visual feedback. Synergistic (anti-phase) structure of force control between the lower limbs occurred and the values of synergy index were higher only during the performance of the asymmetrical task with visual feedback. In addition, greater bilateral force control accuracy was observed during the performance of the asymmetrical task (with and without visual feedback), despite no differences in within-trial variability of both tasks.