title: Impact of exercise-induced fatigue on the strength, postural control, and gait of children with a neuromuscular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with a neuromuscular disease are prone to early muscular fatigue. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of fatigue induced by a walking exercise on the strength, postural control, and gait of children with a neuromuscular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximal isometric knee strength (extension and flexion), quiet standing postural control, and gait were evaluated in 12 children (8.8 [1.4] yrs) with a neuromuscular disease before and after a walking exercise. The participants were asked to stop walking when they considered themselves "very fatigued."
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the exercise-induced fatigue, a significant increase in range of motion in pelvis obliquity, hip abduction and adduction, and ankle flexion and extension during gait was reported along with an increase in stride length variability. Fatigue also reduced the knee flexor strength and had a detrimental effect on postural control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatigue affects the strength, postural control, and gait of children with a neuromuscular disease and could notably increase the risks of falling and the occurrence of serious injuries.
authors.affiliation: From the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (RH, LB, MR, AP, SD, MR, ML); Département de kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (RH, LB, MR, AP, ML); Groupe de recherche en activité physique adaptée (GRAPA), Montreal, Quebec, Canada (LB, ML); and Département de génie mécanique, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (MR).
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballaz
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pouliot
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Arcy
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raison
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemay
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular