Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
Quantitative Static and Dynamic Assessment of Balance Control in Stroke Patients
Published on: May 17, 2020
Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
L Colby Mangum1, Andrew Skibski1, Luk Devorski1
1Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Central Florida.
Background:
Balance and postural stability are required of figure skaters throughout on-ice performance. Spinning, jumping, and landing each rely on this skill set to maintain control while skaters manage changing demands for each skating discipline.
Hypothesis/Purpose:
The aim of this study was to compare balance error scoring system (BESS) performance in figure skaters between disciplines and determine if age was related to BESS performance.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Methods:
Three hundred and fifty-eight figure skaters (age: 15.4±3.3 years, 213 females, 145 males) of multiple disciplines completed the BESS during the United States Figure Skating's Standardized Testing of Athleticism to Recognize Skaters (S.T.A.R.S.) combine. Errors during each condition of the BESS were recorded by trained evaluators. A 3x6 ANOVA was used to determine BESS differences based on skating discipline. Spearman's rho (ρ) correlation coefficients were calculated for relationships between BESS errors and age.
Results:
Ice dancers had more errors than singles and pairs for bipedal foam (p<0.001) but had fewer errors than single skaters for single leg foam (p=0.002). Tandem on a firm surface also showed an increase in errors for ice dancers and pairs skaters compared to singles (p<0.001). There were significant weak negative relationships noted between age and bipedal foam and single leg firm conditions (ρ=-0.14, -0.23, p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Figure skaters of different disciplines have varying levels of static postural stability. Assessing postural stability in figure skaters can provide insight to improve performance and may identify skaters at risk of injury.
Level Of Evidence:
3©The Author(s).
Related Concept Videos
01:10Energy Diagrams - II
The point in the energy diagram at which the system’s potential energy is the lowest is known as the local minima. The system tends to stay in this position indefinitely unless acted upon by a net force. The slope of the potential energy diagram at the local minima is zero, indicating that zero net force is acting on the system. The...
01:04Social Facilitation
01:10Standard Deviation
01:14Energy Diagrams - I
Take the example of a skater on a parabolic ramp. The potential energy at different points along the ramp will be proportional to the height of the ramp, which varies quadratically with the horizontal position on the ramp. As the skater moves down the ramp from the highest position,...
00:49Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - I
01:21Rigid Body Equilibrium Problems - II
Consider two children sitting on a seesaw, which has negligible mass. The first child has a mass (m1) of 26 kg and sits at point A, which is 1.6 meters (r1) from the pivot point B; the second child has a mass (m2) of 32 kg and sits at point C. How far from the pivot point B should the second child sit (r2) to balance the seesaw?