Effects of muscular fatigue on knee joint laxity and neuromuscular characteristics of male and female athletes.

Objective: To elucidate the effects of muscular fatigue on knee joint laxity and the neuromuscular characteristics of male and female athletes. We were particularly interested in determining whether such effects would be more pronounced in female athletes than in males participating in the same sport. Design and Setting: Subjects were assessed on 4 dependent variables during a rested and an isokinetically induced muscular fatigue state. We ensured that posttesting measurements were obtained in the fatigued state by testing only 2 dependent variables after each exercise bout. Subjects: We recruited male (n = 17) and female (n = 17) subjects from a population of healthy collegiate basketball and soccer players. Measurements: Measured dependent variables were as follows: anterior tibial translation, kinesthesia determined by assessing the threshold to detection of passive motion moving