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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
16
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.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Belgium
Reactive Upper Quarter Y Balance Test
Measures visuomotor reaction time, reaching accuracy, and balance errors during a reactive upper quarter Y balance test performed under visual stimuli conditions.
Time frame: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each experimental and control condition session)
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test
Assesses upper-extremity muscular endurance and stability by counting the number of alternating hand touches performed in a 15-second push-up position task.
Time frame: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each session)
Upper Quarter Y Balance Test
Evaluates dynamic upper-extremity reach performance and composite score based on normalized reach distances in three directions.
Time frame: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each session)
Seated Single-Arm Shot Put Test
Measures upper-extremity explosive power based on throwing distance of a 6-lb medicine ball.
Time frame: Pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention (each session)
Subjective Mental Fatigue
Subjective Mental Fatigue measured using the Mental Visual Analog Scale (M-VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates no mental fatigue and 100 indicates the highest level of mental fatigue imaginable. Higher scores indicate worse mental fatigue.
Time frame: Baseline, every 5 minutes during intervention, and post-intervention (each session)
Go/No-Go Task
Assesses executive function using a computerized Go/No-Go task. Outcomes include reaction time (milliseconds) and response accuracy (percentage of correct responses, ranging from 0% to 100%). Higher accuracy indicates better executive function performance, while shorter reaction times indicate better performance.
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (each session)
Motivation State
Assesses task-related motivation using the Assessment of Motivational States in Performance Environments questionnaire. The questionnaire includes two 7-item subscales: Interest Motivation and Success Motivation. Higher scores indicate greater task engagement, interest in the task, and motivation to perform successfully.
Time frame: Pre- and post-intervention (each session)
Perceived Exertion
Assesses perceived exertion using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. Scores range from 6 to 20, with higher scores indicating greater perceived exertion.
Time frame: Immediately after physical performance testing (each session)
Stroop Task Performance
Assesses cognitive performance using a computerized Stroop task. Outcomes include reaction time (milliseconds) and response accuracy (percentage of correct responses, ranging from 0% to 100%). Higher accuracy and shorter reaction times indicate better cognitive performance.
Time frame: During intervention (continuous, averaged per block)
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