The dialectical model of fatigue in physical activity

ABSTRACT

This theoretical paper discusses philosophical and methodological approaches underlying the study of fatigue and the existing models and hypotheses of fatigue. In our view, the most suitable framework for analyzing the phenomena of nature and physiological states of the human organism is that of dialectical materialism, contrary to the commonly held reductionist and idealist approaches. As such, we show that psychophysiological, environmental, and temporal factors interact simultaneously during physical activities, with quantitative changes in their constituent elements. If, or when, these quantitative changes reach a certain magnitude, there is a qualitative change in desired performance, in other words, fatigue. We also show how the relations between different factors that contribute to fatigue influence such quantitative and qualitative changes. Our proposed model is useful for scientists and sports professionals with a contextual understanding of the factors that contribute to fatigue, and consequently can provide insights into the development of interventions to improve physical-technical-tactical performance.

KEYWORDS:

• fatigue
• sports performance
• integrative
• dialectical biology
• sports sciences

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully thank professor Luiz Oswaldo Carneiro Rodrigues for awakening a more integrative, complex, and historical thought of the human organism.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alexandre Sérvulo Ribeiro Hudson

Alexandre Sérvulo Ribeiro Hudson obtained his master’s and doctorate in Sports Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (2013–2020). He has been a member of the Exercise Physiology Laboratory (UFMG - Brazil) since 2010, and also practices as a Physical Education professional. During the last few years, he has participated in research involving exercise physiology, the gastrointestinal system, immunology, physical training and thermoregulation. He is a member of MEDIANTAR, a Brazilian group that develops research related to human physiology and health in Antarctica.

Nafis Hasan

Nafis Hasan received his PhD in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology from Tufts University in 2019. Following his PhD, he worked as a Postdoctoral Scholar (2019–2021) in David Kaplan’s lab at Tufts University, Dept of Biomedical Engineering where he worked on developing tissue models of brain tumors. He currently works in the labor movement in Philadelphia and is an Associate Faculty at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research. He also serves as an editor for Science for the People magazine.