Speed-Accuracy Dissociation in Fencing: Performance Fatigability Without a Detectable Decline in Touch Accuracy: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Background: It remains unclear whether physiological load affects fencing accuracy to the same extent as movement speed and whether a shortened protocol can reproduce the outcomes of a full repeated-sprint protocol. Methods: Ten fencers (foil/épée; 7 men, 3 women; 16–30 years) completed anthropometric, handgrip strength, and maximal heart rate assessments on Day 1; a target-hitting task at baseline and at 50% and 85% of maximal heart rate using two fencing gestures on Day 2; and ten 16 m shuttles (4–2–4–2–4 m), separated by 8 s of recovery and each ending with a lunge to a graded target, on Day 3. Results: Shuttle time increased non-linearly, reaching an estimated maximum at shuttle 7.27 (95% CI: 6.15–11.34), whereas no significant trend in touch performance was detected across shuttles (p = 0.988). On Day 2, accuracy did not differ across heart rate conditions but differed between gestures (p < 0.001). On Day 3, heart rate reached 84.60–93.45% of maximal heart rate. The seven-shuttle fatigue index showed close agreement with the full-protocol index (ICC = 0.96; limits of agreement: −2.58 to 1.25), indicating reproducibility rather than criterion validity. Conclusions: Performance fatigability was expressed as slower movement, with no detectable decline in touch accuracy; the underlying physiological or neuromuscular mechanisms were not assessed. Seven shuttles emerged as a candidate protocol length, which requires test-retest reliability and independent validation before it can replace the full protocol.