Voluntary motor and effort control in students under conditions of induced fatigue and recovery

Abstract

Introduction. The development of technologies to reduce recovery time following extreme physical activities is an area of growing interest. Such technologies must be grounded in a strong understanding of the interplay between neuromuscular parameters and higher mental functions (such as voluntary attention and sensorimotor control) under conditions of acute fatigue and subsequent recovery. Aims: this study aimed to identify the characteristics of the functional relationships between voluntary motor and effort control in individuals with differing levels of physical fitness following fatigue induced by an isometric intermittent exercise. Materials and methods. Two groups of students (mean age 19.3 ± 0.8 years) were examined under laboratory conditions: athletes (n = 14) and non–athletes (n = 11). Fatigue was induced via an isometric intermittent exercise. Voluntary control was assessed using a battery of tests measuring sensorimotor response (reaction to a moving object), effort control (muscular endurance), motor control (tremor analysis), and postural control (eyes-open conditions, Neurosens inertial measurement unit). Diagnostics were performed at three time points: pre-test, immediately post-test, and 10 minutes post-test. Data were analyzed using graphical interpretation and the construction of correlation pleiades (Spearman's r, p < 0.05). Results. In the athlete group, voluntary motor and effort control post-exercise demonstrated a tendency to maintain sensorimotor accuracy, including via postural imbalance. Non-athletes exhibited a decrease in sensorimotor accuracy. After a 10-minute rest, athletes showed continued recovery of function control, error rates became associated with advanced sensorimotor reactions, and the number of precise reactions was linked to inhibitory activity. Among non-athletes, impulsivity continued to negatively impact movement coordination. Positive correlations between strength retention time (dynamometry) and motor quality (tremor analysis) indicated the activation of compensatory mechanisms to stabilize movement accuracy.
Conclusion. The application of exercise testing combined with an analysis of changes in regulatory processes is an effective methodology for exploring the causal relationships, structure, and mechanisms underlying voluntary control.