THE EFFECT OF A STRETCH-SHORTENING CYCLE FATIGUE TEST ON THE DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LOWER LIMBS IN ADULT MEN AND PRE-PUBESCENT BOYS

Purpose: The present study focused on the acute effect differences between children and adults after a stretch shortening cycle fatigue test on drop jump performance.Method: Eleven pre-pubescent boys (10,2 ± 0,7 y old) and eleven adult men (24,3 ± 3,3 y old) performed a stretch shortening cycle fatigue test (SSFT,10 sets /10 repetitions, with 30 sec interval between sets). Before and after fatigue test, maximal isometric torque, drop jump (DJ), contact time and ground reaction forces (GRF) wereevaluated. Fatigue perceives and feel of pain were evaluated immediately after fatigue as well.Results: After fatigue MVC and DJ significantly decreased in both groups but this decrease was higher in adults.Contact time and GRF were increased in both groups but in a higher extend in adults. Fatigue perception and the feeling of pain were also higher in adults.Conclusion: In this research, the SSFT resulted in acute reduction of the performance of both age groups butmore in adults. The higher performance reduction in adults could be attributed possibly both in neuromuscular, metabolic and inflammatory factors