Analysis of the effect of fatigue in fencing using reaction time lights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2025v27e107404Keywords:
Visual training, Sport vision, Fencing fatigue, reaction timeAbstract
This study aims to investigate the increase in reaction times in fencers and its relationship with physical and mental fatigue. Changes in heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SO₂) were used as indicators of physical fatigue, while variations in reaction time to light-based reactive tasks were employed to assess both physical and mental fatigue, measured after warm-up and post-training. A group of 48 fencers performed a 10-minute warm-up followed by a 15-point bout, simulating a regular competition. ANOVA and Friedman tests were conducted to identify statistically significant differences in reaction times for different reactive tasks: Simple Reaction time (SRT), Elective reaction time (ERT), Go-non-Go task (G/NG), and decision making tasks (DM4), including lunge (DML), break (DMB) and march (DMM) tasks, under three distinct conditions based on different fatigue levels: at rest (R), after warm-up (WU), and post training (PT). It was found that most reaction times that were studied were significantly higher in the PT than at R (SRT1PT-R = 70 ms, ERT2pT-R = 58 ms, G/NG3pT-R = 64ms, DM4pT-R = 125 ms, DML4 PT-R = 125 ms , DMM4 PT-R = 130ms ), suggesting a considerable impact of physical activity and fatigue on these exercises, negatively affecting the speed and accuracy of responses. These findings highlight that fatigue plays a critical role in sports like fencing, where the ability to make quick and accurate decisions is essential, and underline the importance of efficiently managing physical and mental fatigue to optimize performance in competitive situations.
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