Delayed influence of stretch-shortening cycle fatigue on large ankle joint position coded with static positional signals

This study examines the static position sense from the ankle joint following a unilateral exhaustive stretch‐shortening cycle (SSC)‐type exercise involving mostly the triceps surae muscle group. Fatigue effects were quantified within the exercised and non‐exercised leg through a maximal isometric voluntary plantarflexion test (MVC) performed immediately before (Pre) and after the SSC exercise, and repeated 2 (D2) and 8 (D8) days later. The static position sense test consisted in active reproductions with the non‐exercised ankle of two target dorsiflexed positions (small and large) previously maintained with either the non‐exercised (control procedure) or the exercised ankle (fatigue procedure). This test was carried out at Pre, D2, and D8. At D2, the MVC test revealed significant decreases in voluntary soleus muscle activity and peak plantarflexion force. The position sense test showed no error in reproduction accuracy in the control procedure. In contrast, the fatigue procedure revealed an overestimation of the large dorsiflexed position, only, with an associated increase of the agonist tibialis muscle activity. In agreement with the antagonist (stretched) muscle influence on the position sense, this overestimation is mostly attributed to potential SSC fatigue effects on ascending proprioceptive afferents issued from the exercised/inflamed antagonist muscles.