Postural ability reflects the athletic skill level of surfers

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Sports Science

Background:

• Postural control is crucial for surfers.
• Visual information plays a role in maintaining balance.
• Understanding differences based on skill level is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze postural control in surfers of varying competition levels.
• To investigate the use of visual information in static and dynamic postures.
• To compare expert (national/international) and local surfers' balance strategies.

Main Methods:

• Two groups of surfers (local and national/international) participated.
• Center of foot pressure was measured using a force platform.
• Postural stability was assessed on both stable and unstable surfaces with eyes open and closed.

Main Results:

• National/international level surfers demonstrated better postural control than local level surfers.
• The contribution of vision to postural maintenance was less significant in expert surfers on unstable surfaces.
• A correlation was found between surfers' postural ability and their competition level.

Conclusions:

• Expert surfers may rely more on proprioception than vision for balance.
• Elite surfers possess enhanced postural control compared to less experienced surfers.
• Findings suggest potential for new training programs to improve surfers' balance.