Does Mental Fatigue Affect Physical Performance in Wheelchair Basketball Players? An Individualized Cognitive Load...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Paralympic Sports

Background:

• Mental fatigue's detrimental effects on physical performance are known in endurance sports.
• Its impact on paralympic athletes, specifically in wheelchair basketball, remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of mental fatigue on the intermittent endurance performance of wheelchair basketball players.
• To assess changes in perceived effort following cognitive exertion in this population.

Main Methods:

• Eleven paralympic athletes underwent two experimental sessions: a control (documentary) and a high cognitive effort (Stroop test) condition.
• Performance was measured using the Yo-Yo intermittent 10-m test, with Rating of Perceived Effort (RPE) recorded.
• Estimation statistics with paired Hedge's g were used for analysis.

Main Results:

• High cognitive effort significantly reduced the distance covered during the Yo-Yo test (moderate effect size).
• Test duration decreased, and RPE significantly increased under the high cognitive effort condition (large effect size).
• Mental fatigue demonstrated a moderately negative impact on intermittent endurance performance.

Conclusions:

• Mental fatigue impairs physical performance in wheelchair basketball athletes.
• Cognitive exertion leads to increased perceived effort during physical tasks.
• Strategies to mitigate mental fatigue may enhance paralympic athletes' performance.