Effects of Visual and Auditory Perturbations on Ski-Specific Balance among Males and Females—A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

Injuries in skiing show sex-specific differences, especially when visual perception is reduced. Reduced visual perception impairs balance, which plays an important role in avoiding skiing injuries. However, males and females might cope differently with reduced visual perception. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate sex-related effects of environmental perturbations (reduced visual perception and listening to music) on ski-specific balance. Using a crossover design, ski-specific balance was tested in 50 young adults (50% female) in four conditions: with and without listening to music and/or with and without reduced visual perception (ski goggles with occlusion foil). A four × two (condition by sex) mixed ANOVA revealed a significant condition by sex interaction, partial η² = 0.06. Females showed an increase in balance from the condition without music/with normal visual perception to the condition with music/with normal visual perception, while males showed a decrease. Balance was significantly higher in females compared to males, partial η² = 0.31. The findings suggest that balance is affected differently by environmental perturbations in females and males. However, the differences observed were not in line with our initial hypotheses, which might be because the model was too simplistic for how visual/auditory perturbations may affect balance.

Relationship between Lower Extremity Fitness Levels and Injury Risk among Recreational Alpine Skiers: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…This indicates that the significant differences in the balance performance between the injured and uninjured groups were not limited to a single direction. These results are consistent with previous findings [ 29 , 33 , 67 , 68 ].…”

Objectively Measured Physical Activity Is Associated with Static Balance in Young Adults

“…Visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems are the main sensory systems involved in postural control and balance [25]. Visual inputs are crucial for postural control, and posture stability with the eyes closed was worse than that with the eyes open [4,7,26]. For example, Perrin et al [27] examined the effects of physical activities on balance control in elderly people and found the stability with eyes closed was worse than those obtained with eyes open in all groups.…”

“…For example, sex was one of the important factors that influenced postural balance [3]. Women showed higher postural stability in different conditions and measurements [4]. Visual inputs could also be crucial for postural control in healthy adults.…”

Editorial on the Special Issue on “Mountain Sports Activities: Injuries and Prevention”

“…This provides support for a leg discrepancy in sensorimotor control as a more plausible injury mechanism compared to a difference in leg strength between the dominant and non-dominant leg [ 21 ]. Another laboratory study focused on potential external risk factors for injuries [ 22 ]. Specifically, effects of visual (reduced sight similar to snowfall) and auditory perturbations (listening to music) on ski-specific balance were tested.…”

“…Specifically, effects of visual (reduced sight similar to snowfall) and auditory perturbations (listening to music) on ski-specific balance were tested. Although the findings suggest a different coping with the environmental perturbations between sexes, no significant main effects of visual and/or auditory perturbations on balance were detected [ 22 ]. Therefore, future laboratory studies in this field might consider a less simplistic setting to mirror the setting of a real skiing condition more realistically.…”