Effects of peripheral fatigue of ankle evertors on force sense and electromyographic activity in healthy subjectsBrezovar, Tjaž (Avtor) Vene, Maja (Avtor) Tučen, Taja (Avtor) Jagarinec, Anika (Avtor) Puh, Urška (Avtor) Kacin, Alan (Avtor) episiotomyexternal anal Sphincterinnervation zonessurface electromyographyfecal incontinence Background: Ankle proprioception is essential for dynamic stability, but fatigue may impair force sense and neuromuscular control, increasing injury risk. Their relationship remains unclear. Objective: To examine the effects of ankle evertor fatigue on force sense accuracy and variability, along with associated changes in muscle activation. Methods: Twenty-four healthy participants completed a force-matching task in ankle eversion at 25% and 50% of MVIC before and after a fatigue protocol. Force sense was assessed by constant, absolute, and variable error and coefficient of variation. RMS amplitude was calculated for the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, soleus, and gastrocnemius medialis, and median frequency only for the peroneus longus. Results: With fatigue, there was a 34.7% reduction in MVIC torque (p < 0.05). During force-matching tasks, variable error at 50% MVIC and coefficient of variation without visual feedback at 25% and 50% MVIC increased (p < 0.01), EMG amplitude of all muscles substantially increased (p < 0.05), and median frequency of the peroneus longus decreased (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Peripheral fatigue of ankle evertors increases variability in muscle force output, which is accompanied by compensatory motor unit recruitment during force matching, resulting in elevated variability. 20252025-12-11 09:45:00Članek v reviji176814sl