THE EFFECT OF FATIGUE AND ELEVATED HEART RATE ON ARCHERY SHOT PERFORMANCE

D.E. Lankford FACSM1, B. Higginson2 1Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg ID, 2Gonzaga University, Spokane WA PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of fatigue and elevated heart rate on archery shot performance with both single cam (SC) and double cam (DC) compound bows. METHODS: Participants consisted of experienced archers (n=15). Participants were outfitted with two styles of bows, a SC and DC. Participants performed 15 familiarization shots at a distance of 20 yds prior to testing. Each participant then completed a series of shots in a fatigued (F) and non-fatigued (NF) state with both SC and DC bows. NF testing: Participants performed 4 shots (NF1, NF2, NF3, NF4) at a 20 yd target. During this time participants were asked to shoot the arrows as quickly as possible, but without compromising accuracy. The worst arrow was dropped and the x mark was calculated as the center of the diameter that encompassed the top 3 shots (NFT3). F testing: Participants were asked to walk on a treadmill at 10% grade, 2.5 mph for 5 min, followed by a 30 sec rest and subsequent 300 yd run at 7 mph and 1% grade. Following the run, participants performed 4 shots (F1,F2,F3,F4) at a 20 yd target as quickly as possible, but without compromising accuracy. Heart rate (HR) was continuously recorded during both NF and F tests. Aim time in seconds was also recorded for each shot. Precision was determined by comparing NFT3 to F1 for both SC and DC tests. Accuracy was determined by comparing NFT3 to the center of a diameter that encompassed the top 3 F shots (FT3) for both SC and DC tests. SC and DC tests were performed in a random cross-over design. A Pearson test was used to determine the relationship between F1 precision and HR. RESULTS: Aim time was not significantly different between the DC (NF=3.49 ± 1.41sec, F=3.72 ± 1.41sec; p=0.15) or SC (NF=3.62 ± 1.14sec, F=3.59 ± 1.33sec; p=0.67) tests. Precision between F1 and NFT3 was not different between the DC (59.07 ± 49.83mm) and SC (59.27 ± 52.69mm, p=0.96) tests. There were weak relationships between HR and F1 precision for SC (r=-0.024) and DC (r=0.24). There were significant differences between NFT3 (80.36 ± 32.38mm) and FT3 (56.43 ± 31.09mm, p=0.16) during the DC test only. However these differences were not associated with F1, which could be considered the most critical shot. CONCLUSION: Elevated heart rate does not impair aim time or initial shot performance in archery with either a SC or DC compound bow