The Effect of Mental Fatigue on Upper Extremity Functional Performance

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Mental Fatigue: Mental fatigue (MF) is a psychobiological state characterized by feelings of tiredness and/or a measurable decline in performance following prolonged or intense cognitive activity.

Study summary

Mental fatigue (MF) is known to impair cognitive performance and may negatively affect physical performance. While its effects on lower-extremity functional performance have been investigated, little is known about the influence of MF on upper-extremity physical performance tests commonly used in sports and rehabilitation settings. This randomized crossover study will investigate the effects of experimentally induced mental fatigue on upper-extremity physical performance in 16 healthy physically active adults. Participants will complete both a mental fatigue condition, involving a prolonged Stroop task, and a control condition consisting of watching an emotionally neutral documentary. Before and after each condition, participants will perform the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test, Reactive Upper Quarter Y Balance Test, Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test, and Seated Single-Arm Shot Put Test. Subjective mental fatigue, cognitive performance, motivation, and perceived exertion will also be assessed. The findings will improve understanding of whether mental fatigue influences upper-extremity physical performance test outcomes and may assist clinicians and researchers in interpreting these assessments in sports medicine and rehabilitation contexts.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Reactive Upper Quarter Y Balance Test — Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each experimental and control condition session)
  Measures visuomotor reaction time, reaching accuracy, and balance errors during a reactive upper quarter Y balance test performed under visual stimuli conditions.
• Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test — Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each session)
  Assesses upper-extremity muscular endurance and stability by counting the number of alternating hand touches performed in a 15-second push-up position task.
• Upper Quarter Y Balance Test — Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each session)
  Evaluates dynamic upper-extremity reach performance and composite score based on normalized reach distances in three directions.
• Seated Single-Arm Shot Put Test — Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each session)
  Measures upper-extremity explosive power based on throwing distance of a 6-lb medicine ball.

Trial sites (1)

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