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Fatigue is both a psychological and physiological phenomenon, arising from the interaction between external stressors and an individual’s perceived exertion [1]. It significantly affects motor learning, coordination, and the ability to adapt to changing task demands [2], [3]. Moreover, fatigue can increase the risk of injury by disrupting the neuromuscular organization required for complex movements [4], [5] . In the context of motor learning, fatigue represents a unique challenge to adaptability, requiring the system to reorganize across temporal and spatial scales. Muscle force production, for instance, involves the interaction of multiple elements (e.g., motor neurons, myofibrils, tendinous units) operating at different timescales [6]. These temporal variations reflect how different components of the neuromuscular system self-organize to adapt to the environment and the task at hand, which are critical processes in motor learning. Fatigue acts as a determinant that disrupts these interactions, altering how neuromuscular systems respond during task execution. If we understand fatigue as a state where the organism is not in optimal condition, we can anticipate a loss of complexity in signals related to force production [7]. This is also associated with reduced variability, which signals a diminished adaptability in the system. Complexity and adaptability are key attributes of skilled motor learning, as they indicate the system’s capacity to generate effective solutions under variable conditions. Acute fatigue from physical and mental stress, if properly addressed, can improve with appropriate recovery. Thus, sports scientists have prioritized developing tools and tests to detect and monitor fatigue states after high-intensity efforts.

 

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[2]         D. J. Hornery, D. Farrow, I. Mujika, and W. Young, “Fatigue in tennis: mechanisms of fatigue and effect on performance,” Sports Medicine, vol. 37, pp. 199–212, 2007.

[3]         K. A. Royal, D. Farrow, I. Mujika, S. L. Halson, D. Pyne, and B. Abernethy, “The effects of fatigue on decision making and shooting skill performance in water polo players,” J Sports Sci, vol. 24, no. 8, pp. 807–815, 2006.

[4]         A. Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, D. Romero-Rodriguez, R. S. Lloyd, A. Kushner, and G. D. Myer, “Integrative neuromuscular training in youth athletes. Part II: Strategies to prevent injuries and improve performance,” Strength Cond J, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 9–27, 2016.

[5]         A. Fort Vanmeerhaeghe and D. Romero Rodriguez, “Neuromuscular risk factors of sports injury,” Apunts Sports Medicine, vol. 48, no. 179, pp. 109–120, 2013.

[6]         J. J. G. Badillo and J. R. Serna, Bases de la programación del entrenamiento de fuerza, vol. 308. Inde, 2002.

[7]         F. García-Aguilar, C. Caballero, R. Sabido, and F. J. Moreno, “The use of non-linear tools to analyze the variability of force production as an index of fatigue: A systematic review,” Front Physiol, vol. 13, p. 1074652, 2022.