Evaluation of laterality in the snowboard basic position

Abstract

Purpose. snowboarding requires a lateral positioning of the body. Moreover, a person must continuously control their balance and use this in order to manoeuvre on the slope applying properly pressure on the lower limb closest to the nose of the board (the leading leg). The present study is an attempt to determine the interdependencies between side preference while snowboarding and laterality when performing other tasks. The dynamic stability in the neutral standing position, as well as in the lateral positions (left or right) was also evaluated. Methods. The survey participants (100 active snowboarders) answered a set of questions concerning laterality while carrying out basic everyday tasks and while doing sports. The respondents were divided into two groups based on their preferred leading side in snowboarding. Additionally, in the case of 34 people, muscle torques values of the lower limbs were measured under static conditions and the postural stability was evaluated using Accusway AMTI platform and biodex balance system platform. Results. Over 90% of the participants declared right-handedness and right-footedness. However, with regard to snowboarding, only 66% indicated their right leg as leading. No significant dependence was found between the directional stance on the board and the leading hand, dominant leg, or leading eye. The stability measurements revealed statistically significant differences between the neutral stance and the lateral positioning. Conclusions. based on the study results, it may be assumed that the declared directional stance on the snowboard is not contingent on the person's basic laterality, and that the lateral stance on the board significantly affects the posture control.

Differences between stance and foot preference evident in Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) fish holding during movement

“…In board‐in‐motion sports, humans choose a “regular” stance with the left foot forward or “goofy‐foot” stance with the right foot forward (Furley, Dörr, & Loffing, ). Breakdowns include surfers 65% left‐forward/35 right‐forward, skateboarders 56% left‐forward/44 right‐forward and skilled snowboarders 66% right‐forward/34% left‐forward (Furley et al., ; Staniszewski, Przemyslaw, & Wiszomirska, ; Warshaw, ; Willa, ). The Osprey have a 68/32 split of left‐forward/right‐forward stance that is very similar to skateboarders or surfers.…”

“…The Osprey have a 68/32 split of left‐forward/right‐forward stance that is very similar to skateboarders or surfers. Elite snowboarders, and not osprey, appear to be the outliers in stance preference (Staniszewski et al., ).…”

“…In both surfers and skaters, the implication of complex sensory inputs, particularly vision and direction of travel, directly influences stance. Following on that idea, in an elegant discussion of stance from studying snowboarders, Staniszewski argues that balance required to execute turns and maintains stance control requires entire motor system involvement, and as such lateralized preferences for footedness to explain stance during critical balance exercise where arms, axial positioning, or even head tone adjustments are also used is simplistic (Staniszewski et al., ).…”

Role of physique and physical fitness in the balance of Korean national snowboard athletes

“…For high-speed sports such as snowboarding and skiing, temporary loss of balance even for a short duration has a critical effect on the record and injury risk that can even threaten the life of athletes. 1 As snowboarders need to overcome the speed and centrifugal force acting on them during the course, there is a complex, inevitable interaction between their body and the environment during snowboarding. 2 For instance, the vestibular and somatosensory apparatus of snowboarders, as well as their visual response, has to be activated for them to maintain center-of-mass while snowboarding.…”

Evaluation of Changes in the Parameters of Body Stability in the Participants of a Nine-Day Snowboarding Course

“…Sport Tourism 2017, 24, 97-101 required for snowboarding is not natural for human locomotion. As a result of this positioning, the ride takes place within the human temporal plane, rather than, as with most natural and sports-related movements, within the sagittal plane [17,18].…”