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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Determining The Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold Following a Single Visit Exercise Test
Published on: July 27, 2015
Effects of the modified field test on exercise-induced peripheral fatigue in non-elite badminton players
Heping Huang1, Jian Song2, Huiming Huang2,3
1Institute of Physical Education and Sports, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Objectives:
This study aimed to examine the effects of a modified badminton field test (FT) on exercise-induced peripheral fatigue and its underlying responses in non-elite male college badminton players. We hypothesized that the repeated high-intensity intermittent efforts during the modified FT would lead to significant reductions in lower-limb muscle performance and elevate markers of peripheral fatigue, including blood lactate accumulation, perceived exertion, and heart rate elevation.
Methods:
In a single-arm repeated-measures design, 15 healthy male collegiate badminton players (age: 20.2 ± 0.9 years; BMI: 20.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2; playing experience: 1.3 ± 0.4 years) performed five consecutive sets of the field test interspersed with 60 s of passive recovery. Each set involved on-court shuttle runs to eight LED targets and was terminated upon volitional exhaustion, achievement of heart rate ≥92% HRmax, or an RPE ≥18 (Borg 6-20 scale). Markers of peripheral fatigue-vertical jump height (VJ), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and fingertip blood lactate (BL)-were assessed before the test and after each set. Data were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures ANOVA (for VJ, HR, RPE) and paired t-tests (for BL).
Results:
VJ height progressively decreased from 41.8 ± 4.7 cm at baseline to 25.5 ± 4.5 cm after set 5 (Δ = 39.9%, η2p = 0.60, large effect size; p < 0.001). Concurrent increases were observed in HR (63.5 ± 3.8 to 178.0 ± 3.9 bpm; η2p = 0.96, large effect size), RPE (6-18.7 ± 0.9; η2p = 0.95, large effect size), and BL (2.82 ± 1.12 to 16.07 ± 2.52 mmol L-1; Cohen's d = 6.8, large effect size; all p < 0.001). These convergent metabolic, neuromuscular, and perceptual responses confirm the induction of pronounced peripheral fatigue.
Conclusion:
A single 15-min modified badminton FT reliably elicits marked peripheral fatigue in non-elite male players. The protocol provides coaches with an ecologically valid, low-cost and high-safety tool to monitor training load and mitigate fatigue-related injury risk. Future research should validate the FT in female and youth cohorts and explore longitudinal applications.
