Relationship between the anthropometric profile and physical fitness of surfers and their dynamic postural balance

Abstract

Introduction: Surfing is a discipline that has considerably increased the number of followers who practice this sport. Research has focused on describing the main variables associated with performance, but not the relationships that may exist between them. Objective: To establish the relationship of dynamic postural balance with respect to the anthropometric profile and physical aptitude in surfers. Material and method: This research is an observational and cross-sectional study of a descriptive-correlational type. The sample included 30 surfers (8 women and 22 men). The variables of the anthropometric profile studied were body mass, bipedal height, body mass index (BMI), sum of folds, body composition and somatotype. Furthermore, physical aptitude was assessed by indirect tests. The data of the anthropometric profile and physical aptitude were correlated with the results of the dynamic postural balance test (Y balance test). Results: For the anterior direction of the Y balance test, the variables that were significant were gender, body weight, bipedal height, sum of folds, adipose mass and Sargent’s jump height (R2 = 0.55). The posteromedial direction of the Y balance test yielded a significant model that indicates that gender, sum of folds and adipose mass are the variables that jointly predict dynamic postural balance (R2 = 0.30). For the posterolateral direction, the model indicates that the BMI, sum of folds, adipose mass, mesomorphism, ectomorphism and performance in the sit and reach test are the variables that influence the performance of the Y balance test (R2 = 0.55). Conclusion: Predictive models were established to determine anthropometric and physical condition variables that would be decisive for the performance of a surfer’s postural balance.

Relación entre composición corporal y somatotipo con equilibrio postural dinámico en jóvenes basquet-bolistas Relación entre composición corporal y somatotipo con equilibrio postural dinámico en jóvenes basquetbolistas (Relationship between body composition and somatotype with dynamic postural balance in young basketball players)

“…For their part, the endomorph and ectomorph somatotypes influence the performance of the anterior reach of the dynamic postural balance in a negative and positive way, respectively. These results agree with those reported in other athletes, where it has been seen that variables related to the accumulation of adipose tissue, such as body mass index and percentage of body fat, have been negatively associated with the performance of postural balance (Hartley, Hoch, & Boling, 2018;Morales-Vargas et al, 2021). Specifically, young basketball players have observed that a higher percentage of fat mass is related to poor postural balance (Kostopoulos, 2015).…”

“…In our study, it was found hat variables related to the accumulation of adiposity such as the percentage of fat mass and endomorphy negatively influence the dynamic postural balance. It has been proposed that the accumulation of fatty tissue around and within the muscle could alter the standard mechanisms of motor responses due to physiological and neuromuscular changes (Morales-Vargas et al, 2021;Pajoutan, Ghesmaty Sangachin, & Cavuoto, 2017). The accumulation of fat would increase the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the muscle, which could reduce the electrochemical balance and neural conductivity (Addison et al, 2014).…”

“…Furthermore, the somatotype in young basketball players is closer to ectomorphy (Gryko et al, 2018), while in professional basketball players it is closer to mesomorphy (Gryko et al, 2018;Ochoa Martínez, Hall López, Alarcón Meza, Arráyales Millán, & Sánchez León, 2014). In other populations, it has been seen that an increase in body fat negatively affects postural balance (Guzmán-Muñoz, Valdés-Badilla, Mendez-Rebolledo, Concha-Cisternas, & Castillo-Retamal, 2018;Morales-Vargas, Valdes-Badilla, & Guzmán-Muñoz, 2021), while those with a mesomorphic somatotype show better postural balance (Samaei, Bakhtiary, & Hajihasani, 2014).…”

“…The mSEBT protocol evaluates three directions: posteromedial, and posterolateral (Gribble et al, 2012). In young athletes, the mSEBT has been frequently used to assess dynamic postural balance (Mendez-Rebolledo et al, 2021;Morales-Vargas et al, 2021;Sáez-Michea et al, 2023;Vásquez-Orellana, López-Vásquez, Méndez-Rebolledo, & Guzman Muñoz, 2022). Postural balance has been found to be better in young basketball players than in non-basketball adolescents, mainly in the posteromedial and posterolateral reach of mSEBT (Curtolo et al, 2017).…”

Effects of functional movement skills on parkour speed‐run performance

“…The suggestion that functional movement skills could be associated with Parkour performance has to some extent been investigated by Abellan‐Aynés and Alacid (2016) who separated Traceurs into high and low performance groups based on judges’ scores. The high‐performance group significantly outperformed their counterparts in both counter movement and long jump tasks, suggesting that performance on these tests of functional movement skill is associated with Parkour performance.…”