Effects of mental fatigue on lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic capacity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Mental fatigue may impair high-intensity exercise performance, but its effects on lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic capacity remain inconsistent. This study aimed to systematically evaluate and quantitatively synthesize the effects of mental fatigue on these two performance domains. Methods This study was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI were searched for randomized controlled trials and randomized crossover trials. Standardized mean differences were calculated using Hedges’ g, and pooled effects were estimated using a random-effects model. Risk-of-bias assessment, sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses were also conducted. Results A total of 17 studies involving 302 participants were included. Mental fatigue significantly reduced lower-limb explosive power, although the effect size was small and heterogeneity was low (SMD = −0.16, 95% CI [−0.28, −0.03], p = 0.014). Mental fatigue also significantly impaired anaerobic capacity (SMD = −0.29, 95% CI [−0.52, −0.06], p = 0.013). No statistically significant between-subgroup differences were observed for athletic level, mental-fatigue induction duration, or sport specificity of the performance test. Conclusion Mental fatigue appears to impair both lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic capacity, although the anaerobic-capacity estimate should be interpreted cautiously because of imprecision and lower certainty of evidence. Cognitive load management should therefore be considered in training design and pre-competition preparation. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42025116370 , identifier CRD42025116370.