INTRODUCTION: Fencing is an open-skilled, asymmetric combat sport characterized by high-intensity bouts and requires high levels of coordination, power, and accuracy. However, the performance-specific fatigue of fencing remains to be elucidated1. In the present study, we evaluated the neuromuscular and mental aspects of fatigue induced by a competition in elite world-class athletes. METHODS: Changes in countermovement jump height, knee extensors maximal isometric force, rate of force development (RFD), voluntary activation and contractile response to muscular electrical stimulation were measured in 12 male world-class fencers (epee n = 6 ; foil n = 6). Measurements were performed before and after the first match, and after a 5-matches simulated competition. Perceived fatigue and effort were evaluated with 10-cm visual analog scales (VAS), and the perceived workload was assessed with the NASA-TLX scale. RESULTS: Jump height did not change significantly after one or five matches (P = 0.108). Maximal force, RFD and voluntary activation were not significantly different after match 1 but significantly decreased after match 5 compared with baseline (-13 ± 12%, P < 0.001; -9 ± 19%, P < 0.025; -15 ± 16%; P = 0.003, respectively). Finally, contractile responses did not change significantly along the simulated competition (P = 0.337). Perceived fatigue increased from baseline (3.9 ± 2.5 cm) after match 1 (5.6 ± 2.0 cm, P = 0.026) and match 5 (7.3 ± 2.1 cm, P < 0.001), and was greater following match 5 compared to match 1 (P = 0.001). Similar outcome after match 1 and match 5 were also found for perception of effort (6.6 ± 1.8 cm vs. 6.8 ± 1.6 cm, P = 1.000) from the VAS scale, and perceived mental (75 ± 13 vs. 70 ± 20, P = 0.259) and physical demand (68 ± 13 vs. 76 ± 14, P = 0.158) from the NASA-TLX. CONCLUSION: In elite world-class fencers, there was no evidence of neuromuscular alterations after a single match. The observable impairments at the end of the competition were moderate regarding maximal force and RFD. Those changes were mainly due to impairments in voluntary activation. The moderate neuromuscular impairments suggest that elite world-class fencers can cope well with the physical demand of a 5-matches simulated competition. However, feelings of tiredness and lack of energy (perception of fatigue) increased along the five matches and was high at the end of the simulated competition. The perceived physical and mental demand of the match, along the perception of effort, remained constantly elevated throughout the competition. These results suggest that elite fencing is characterized by an important mental demand that could lead to the induction of mental fatigue overtime.
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