Investigation of bilateral power changes due to fatigue

In this study, the Nordic hamstring test (NHT) was used to evaluate the eccentric strength of the knee flexor muscles of road cyclists, the functional movement analysis test was used to evaluate basic movement abilities, and the smart trainer was used to conduct an aerobic power test to examine dual power changes related to fatigue. The 26 male athletes participating in the study had an average age of 15,0±1,0 years and an average height of 170±7,1 cm, while the 11 female athletes had a median age of 15,2 years and a median height of 160,3 cm. After completing the normality tests of the data, matched, independent Wilcoxon, Mann Whitney U, Friedman, Pearson, and Spearman development tests were performed. The aerobic power test for male athletes was set at 284±48 watts and heart rate at 193±8 beats/min, while the median aerobic power for female athletes was set at 186 watts and the median heart rate at 188 beats/min. The final FMS score (FS) for male athletes was 16,0±2,4, with right leg balance at 108,5±10,7 cm and left hip total score at 109,3±5,3 cm. The median FMS FS score for female athletes was 15 points, the median right leg total score was 110,7 cm, and the median left leg total score was 108,6 cm. The median difference between the right and left legs (R-L) at the start of the aerobic power test for male athletes was 4%, while the median R-L difference at 100% was 2%. The median R-L difference at the start for female athletes was 2%, and the median R-L difference at 100% was 1%. No significant difference was found between the FMS FS scores of male and female athletes. A significant difference was found between the R-L balance differences within the aerobic power test for male athletes. However, no significant difference was found between the R-L balance differences within the aerobic power test for female athletes. No significant differences were found between the maximum NHT difference before the aerobic power test and the right and left balance differences after the NHT test in male and female athletes. It was found that the negative correlations between the maximum NHT difference before the NHT test and the right anterior reach in male athletes and between the maximum NHT difference before the NHT test and the left posterolateral reach in female athletes were moderate. In conclusion, the R-L difference in work efficiency decreases in the aerobic power test applied to cyclists. The results of the Y-Balance test are affected by the R-L ratios of the athletes. Keywords: Fatigue, Bilateral asymmetry, Balance, Strength, Nordic hamstring test, Athlete performance