Effects of different intensities of fatigue on performing a sport skill requiring explosive muscular effort: a test of the specificity of practice principle.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of high, moderate, and low physical fatigue on performing the shot put, a sport skill that requires explosive muscular effort. 44 subjects practiced the shot put until mastery was achieved. They then experienced one of four fatigue intensities during a 20-trial practice period (no fatigue, 45, 60 or 75% of their predicted maximum oxygen uptake) to induce light, moderate, or heavy fatigue, respectively, after which subjects then engaged in criterion performance for 5 trials under each of the fatigue intensities, with one week in between. Distance thrown and expert assessment of performance technique were dependent variables. Analysis indicated that criterion performance was optimal for both distance and form after subjects experienced light fatigue during practice and criterion performance. The specificity of practice hypothesis was partially supported for the light fatigue condition, but not for the other intensities.