Comparison of Postural Stability and Regulation among Female Athletes from Different Sports

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the postural regulation of female athletes who participate in different sports under normal and high-demand conditions. Fifty-nine female athletes were classified into four specific groups based on their individual sport, which included basketball (n = 16), gymnastics (n = 10), ski jumping (n = 13), diving (n = 8), and one group of recreational athletes (n = 12). These groups were then compared using several posturographic tests under four bipedal conditions: eyes open or closed and on a stable surface or foam pad. While there were some differences between groups standing in the less demanding positions (stable surface), the higher demanding positions (unstable surface-foam pads) showed significant differences between the technical sports (ski jumping, diving, and gymnastics) and basketball and recreational athletes. Most (50%, 6/12) of significant differences were provided by sports. In contrast, the predictors age, weight, and height played only a minor role within the covariance analysis. The largest effect by sports was detected for the anterior-posterior weight distribution standing on foam pads with closed eyes (p = 0.015, ηp2 = 0.211). Ski jumping and recreational athletes showed the largest (p = 0.011) partial difference by sports for this parameter and test position. According to the parameters, the weight distribution index (WDI) was the variable with the most significant effects (50%, 6/12). These results provide coaches and athletes with a more sport specific view on postural regulation and potentially assist in identifying deficits to improve sports performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Comparison of Postural Stability and Regulation among Male Athletes from Different Sports

“…Our findings support previous research, which has suggested that more demanding test positions demonstrate greater betweengroup differences [20]. These results also partially support the findings of Lauenroth et al [3], who assessed the postural stability of female athletes from a variety of sports and found that gymnasts had superior control over the athletes from the team-based sports. Davlin [21] used a stabilometer to assess dynamic balance and found that gymnasts had better postural control than soccer players and swimmers.…”

“…Not only is this control critical in activities of daily living to prevent falls, but this system can be taxed even more during competitive athletics when the kinematics and kinetics required by a particular sport are increased substantially. As such, deficiencies in an athlete's postural control can result in decreased performance and potential injury [3,4].…”

“…Whether it is athletes who are required to change directions quickly, such as soccer, basketball, handball, tennis, etc. [3,[5][6][7], athletes who produce highly-skilled technical movements, which are often scored by a judge, such as diving, gymnastics, ski jumping, cheerleading, etc. [4,[8][9][10] or athletes who must maintain their balance while riding a horse over jumps and around obstacles [11,12], postural regulation is a key component of peak performance.…”

“…Although similar research has been conducted on female athletes [3], currently, there is a paucity of similar comparisons among male athletes. Due to the identified neuromuscular differences between men and women, such as deviations in proprioception, muscular activation patterns, muscular strength, and balance [13], there may similarly be differences in the postural control of male athletes between sports.…”

The Influence of Gender and the Specificity of Sports Activities on the Performance of Body Balance for Students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports

“…Experienced Polish gymnasts (seniors) are characterized by superior values of balance for standing positions and handstands, compared to younger gymnasts (juniors), so the long-term practice of this sport will ensure a higher level of static balance [91]. The postural stability analysis at the level of women athletes identified superior values of technical sports practitioners (first, gymnastics, then ski jumping and diving) by comparison with basketball athletes and leisure/recreational athletes [92]. The absence of these types of sports in our group does not allow us to comment on the data provided by the research mentioned.…”