- Title
- An overview of the epidemiological evidence linking injury risk to fatigue in sport: Identification of research needs and opportunities
- Creator
- Finch, Caroline; Williamson, Ann; O'Brien, Brendan
- Date
- 2011
- Type
- Text; Book chapter
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/44018
- Identifier
- vital:5785
- Identifier
- ISBN:9781612093345
- Abstract
- Despite the large literature on the role of fatigue and injury risk in road and occupational settings, evidence for a direct causal link between sports injury risk and fatigue has not previously been reported. This Chapter summarises the epidemiological evidence linking fatigue to sport injury risk, identifies gaps in knowledge relating fatigue and sport injury risk and examines the potential for translating fatigue research from other injury contexts as a means of improving the knowledge base with regards to sports injury. Drawing on the broader fatigue and injury literature linking injury risk to fatigue, fatigue can potentially impact on sport performance/injury risk in one of two ways (or a combination of both): from a cognitive or central fatigue view or through musculoskeletal fatigue. In terms of cognitive-related fatigue, the likely contributors are: 1) sleep homeostasis factors including how long since slept, length of sleep period, quality of recent sleep; 2) circadian or time-of-day factors; and 3) task-related factors (e.g. level of activity) inherent in sport. In terms of musculoskeletal fatigue, physiological factors appear to be mainly associated with inhibited motor control and failure of the brakes of excessive tension development within muscles. This Chapter highlights the lack of epidemiological studies directly linking fatigue to injury risk and where they exist, the poor conceptualisation and measurement of fatigue which limits conclusions. Most of the published studies in this area are related to football codes: rugby (league or union) or soccer. Fatigue is generally identified in these studies in terms of associations between observed injury incidence patterns and the phase-of-play or time-of-season when the injury occurred. Most importantly, whilst the epidemiological studies may conclude that fatigue is a likely or possible risk factor for injury, no prospective study has yet attempted to formally measure fatigue and directly relate it to injury incidence. Overall, this Chapter highlights a need for further epidemiological research on the role of fatigue in sports injury. In lieu of direct evidence, the Chapter reviews the physiological basis for a link between fatigue and musculoskeletal injury risk and discusses the evidence for effects of "cognitive" fatigue on sports performance that is likely to raise injury risk. The Chapter then combines this fundamental evidence for fatigue effects with aetiological models for sports injury causation to highlight key areas where significant knowledge gaps currently exist. Finally, suggestions for a future research agenda that adopts a truly multidisciplinary research strategy are given, for this very important topic.
- Publisher
- Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
- Relation
- Regulation of fatigue in exercise, Chapter 9, p. 155-176; http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Rights
- Copyright © 2011 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Reviewed
- Hits: 767
- Visitors: 757
- Downloads: 9
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format |
|---|