Methods:  Fourteen Division III collegiate sprinters and jumpers (age: 20.4 yrs ± 1.34; ht: 5.96 ft ± .16; and wt: 173.8 lbs ± 21.99) performed the tap test once each day before going to track practice.  The athlete tap tested using the Lafayette Adult Finger Tapper (Model 32726), tapping for ten seconds as fast as they could using their index finger of their dominant hand.  The previous day’s workout was recorded.  Athletes then provided a one word descriptor of their perceived physical fatigue level.

Results:  Matched paired t-tests show that there is a significant difference at the .05 level of significance between the number of taps athletes performed the day after an easy workout and the day after a hard workout (T-value = 3.05).  No significant differences were shown between other post easy workout days (T-values < 1).

Conclusions:  A significant difference between post easy day workout number of taps and post hard workout number of taps was found. This study does suggest that CNS fatigue may be relevant and measured by using the finger tap test.  Further research is needed with a greater number of subjects and longer period of testing.