COMPARISON OF DYNAMIC POSTURAL CONTROL OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETES IN DIFFERENT SPORTS.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were significant differences in dynamic postural control performance in male collegiate soccer and basketball players, wrestlers, and kickboxers. Sixty-five male collegiate athletes competing in soccer (n=20), basketball (n=14), wrestling (n=16), and kickboxing (n= 15) volunteered to participate in this study. Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) scores were obtained bilaterally for anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions. Star Excursion Balance Test scores in the PL, PM, and composite reach distance were found higher in the wrestlers than the other groups (p<0.05). ANT scores did not differ between groups (p>0.05). The results of this study demonstrated that soccer and basketball players and kickboxers did not differ in terms of dynamic balance. However, wrestlers demonstrated superior dynamic balance performance than others. To evaluate risks or deficits related to lower extremity injury in athletes, clinicians and coaches should consider dynamic balance performance differences between sports branches. Introduction:-Participation in sports among college students is on the rise and exercising on a regular basis has benefits to their health in many ways including the psychosocial benefits, higher levels of health-related fitness, socialization, competition and stress reduction 1 . However, muscle injuries are common in sports, and often occur during competition or training 2 . Athletic trainers often prescribe exercises in an attempt to enhance an athlete's postural control or balance and perhaps to reduce the risk of injury 3 . Postural control is the process of coordinating corrective movement strategies and movements at the selected joints to remain in postural equilibrium 4 . Postural control can be grouped as either static or dynamic. Dynamic postural control is one of the athlete's ability to sustain whole body stability of the center of mass during switch between movements 5 . Although postural control or balance is not seen as a key factor for athletic performance 6 , the role of balance training seems to have a critical influence on neuromuscular control and functional performance 7, 8 . Also, it is considered to be more important for many sports skills in terms of injury reduction -13 and has been identified as a risk factor for lower extremity injuries 14