Body balance in people practicing snowboarding

While snowboarding, the human body is subjected to many forces and factors affecting balance. It is assumed that practising snowboarding may improve balance, but the evidence from the literature is scarce. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the effect of snowboard training on balance parameters in adults.

The study included 34 subjects between 19 to 26 years old (21.4 ± 1.44) - students of the University School of Physical Education in Wrocław. They were divided into 2 equal groups. The first group, the practising group consisted of 17 snowboarders who participated in a 6-day snowboard training. The second group, the control group consisted of 17 individuals who had never practised snowboarding. For the conduct of the study, a FreeMED force plate was used. The following parameters were measured: the length of COP sways, the surface of the COP ellipse, and COP ellipse angle. Tests were performed with eyes closed and open.

Values of most of the parameters in the practising group decreased insignificantly after 6-day training. Values of parameters in the control group were in most cases insignificantly higher in comparison with the practising group.

Our findings may suggest that snowboard training has no effect on balance. Further research on larger groups of participants is required. Research methodology should include electromyography, measurement of the moment of muscle force, and kinematic analysis for evaluation movement during real snowboard ride.