Abstract
Aims: The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of specific physical activity (biathlon, rowing) on postural balance in children aged 12-15 years. Persons examined: In total 46 children (aged 14 +- 2 years) participated in our study, 16 biathletes (10 boys, 6 girls, aged 14 +- 2 years), 15 rowers (10 boys, 5 girls, aged 13.9 +- 2 years) and 15 healthy children that did not do any sport regularly (10 boys, 5 girls, aged 14.1 +- 2 years).
All tested athletes had participated in systematic training programs for at least 2 years. Methods: Measuring of the stance stability was performed in 10 postural situations, 4 situations of bipedal stance (on a firm surface with open/closed eyes, on a foam surface with open/closed eyes in stated order) and 6 situations of unipedal stance (on a firm surface with open/closed eyes, on a foam surface with open eyes in stated order).
For the purpose of measuring, the stabilometric platform SPS Synapsys (Marseille, France) was used. The evaluated parameters were Mean velocity CoP (Center of Presure) and CoP Area.
Furthermore, the number of postural corrections was recorded. The data were processed statistically using ANOVA test, to compare the effect of lower limb dominance on stance stability the data were processed by bivalent t-test, for comparison of results between groups was used Fisher's post hoc test.
Results: The biathletes had lower total number of postural corrections in all unipedal stance tests, significantly (p < 0.05) in unipedal stance with closed eyes on both their right and left leg in comparison with the other groups, and unipedal stance on a foam surface on left leg in comparison with the other groups. In unipedal stance on the left leg on a foam surface the biathletes had better stability in parameter CoP Area (p < 0.05) than the other groups.
The group of rowers and the control group did not differ significantly in any parameter. In side comparison of stance on a foam surface the whole group had significantly lower number of postural corrections (p < 0.05) and CoP Area (p < 0.05) on the non-dominant leg.
We did not find any differences between the groups in bipedal stance. Conclusion: We proved that the biathletes had better overall stability of stance than the control group and the rowers.
At examination of unipedal stance on a foam surface had whole group better stabilityon the non-dominant leg. We did n