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Static Postural Control during Single-Leg Stance in Endurance, Team and Combat Athletes from the Spanish National
Carlos Villarón-Casales1, Arian Ramón Aladro-Gonzalvo1, Javier Gámez-Payá1
1Biomechanics & Physiotherapy in Sports (BIOCAPS), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Summary
Young athletes exhibit differences in postural control (PC) based on gender, sport type, and visual conditions. Boys generally demonstrate better PC than girls, with combat athletes showing advantages over endurance athletes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric exercise science
- Sports biomechanics
- Motor development
Background:
- Postural control (PC) is crucial for developing sport-specific skills in young athletes.
- Understanding factors influencing PC aids in optimizing training programs for adolescent athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate static postural control during a single-leg stance in young athletes.
- To compare PC across different sport disciplines (endurance, team, combat), genders, and sensory conditions.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 61 adolescent athletes (12-16 years) from the Spanish National Sport Technification Program.
- Measured centre of pressure (CoP) using a force platform during a 40-second single-leg stance.
- Assessed PC under open and closed eyes conditions, considering leg dominance.
Main Results:
- Girls exhibited significantly lower MVeloc, MFreq, and Sway values than boys across sensory conditions.
- All participants showed increased PC instability with eyes closed compared to eyes open.
- Boys who were combat athletes demonstrated lower Sway than endurance athletes, particularly with the non-dominant leg.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent athletes in a sport technification program display significant differences in PC based on gender, visual input, and sport specialization.
- These findings highlight the importance of PC assessment in young athletes for talent identification and skill development.
- Further research can refine training strategies by considering these identified PC determinants.
