To evaluate postural control and performance in subjects with Down syndrome (SwDS), we measured postural sway (COP) in quiet stance in four 20-second tests: with eyes open or closed and on hard or foam surface. Ten SwDS and eleven healthy subjects participated, aged 29.8 (4.8) and 28.4 (3.9), respectively. The time-series recorded with the sampling rate of 100 Hz were used to evaluate postural performance (COP amplitude and mean velocity) and strategies (COP frequency, fractal dimension and entropy). There were no intergroup differences in the amplitude except the stance on foam pad with eyes open when SwDS had larger sway. The COP velocity and frequency were larger in SwDS than controls in all trials on foam pad. During stances on the foam pad SwDS increased fractal dimension showing higher complexity of their equilibrium system, while controls decreased sample entropy exhibiting more conscious control of posture in comparison to the stances on hard support surface. This indicated that each group used entirely different adjustments of postural strategies to the somatosensory challenge. It is proposed that the inferior postural control of SwDS results mainly from insufficient experience in dealing with unpredictable postural stimuli and deficit in motor learning.

Background: While the association between self-efficacy and sports success has been well established in previous studies, little is known regarding whether the basic approach motivation system contributes to this relationship in athletes. The study examines associations between self-reported temperamental approach disposition, self-efficacy, and predispositions to sports success in athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between August 3 and 30 November 2020. The participants were 156 athletes, aged 16–34 years (M = 21.57, SD = 3.58, 41.67% women), in two groups: 54 elite athletes in speed skating (EASS) and 102 physical education students (PES). The online survey consisted of the Reinforced Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Sports Success Scale (SSS). Results: There were no differences in self-efficacy and sports success in terms of gender, sports discipline, and level of competitions. The Behavioral Activation System (BAS) results were lower in the EASS sample compared with in the PES group. Self-efficacy plays a mediating role in the relationships between BAS and sports success among athletes, with sport discipline as a moderator between BAS and self-efficacy. Sports success in speed skating relies strongly on BAS, while a weak link has been found in other sports disciplines. Conclusions: BAS is directly correlated to sports success and indirectly related through self-efficacy. Mental training should be focused on maintaining self-efficacy and reward motivation in athletes to increase their sports success.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the lateralization of the lead leg during special exercises and the relationship with athletic performance throughout a hurdling session. Methods: Thirty-eight physical education students participated in the study. A novel three-part “OSI” test (walking over hurdles arranged in a circle, spiral, and straight line) was performed, and various hurdle practices (jogging and running) were selected as research tools. The lead leg selected by the participants was taken into consideration, and the relationship between the chosen lead leg and athletic performance in the five tests was established. Results: The lateralization of the lead leg changed depending on the shape of the running course. The results of further analysis showed (i) no correlation between the use of the right leg as the lead leg in three tests conducted at a marching pace, and (ii) a significant positive correlation between tests performed at the marching and running paces. Conclusion: Hurdlers flexibly change the dominant leading leg depending on the shape of the running course. The results of this research could prove helpful in the training of athletes for hurdling competitions, especially young runners in 400-m hurdles involving straight and corner tracks.

Introduction. Sport training forms and develops specific abilities and motor skills (strategies). It involves an alternating application of training loads and rest intervals. Static postural control determines the effectiveness of human motor function in upright stance. Fatigue, on the other hand, resulting from physical activity, is manifested by a lower performance level and affects an athlete's movement accuracy and speed as well as endurance. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of physical exercise (fatigue) on athletes' static postural control by measuring the mean velocity of body sway. Material and methods. Twelve taekwondo practitioners took part in measurements of their body balance control. The stabilographic measurements were carried out with the use of a force platform. Postural control was measured in four tests: with the eyes open and with the eyes closed, pre-and post-exercise (Wingate test). Results. Mean values, mean velocity of body sway taekwondo competitors in traffic levels, in control anterior-posterior plane before the Wingate test: eyes open 12,31 ± 6,1 [mm/s], eyes closed: 13,61 ± 2,9 [mms]. Mean velocity after the Wingate test eyes open 15,39 ± 8,5 [mm/s], eyes closed 18,22 ± 6,2 [mm/s]. The mean values mean velocity in control medial-lateral plane before the Wingate test: eyes open 7,22 ± 2,3 [mm/s] eyes closed 8,74 ± 2,4 [mm/s], and after the Wingate test eyes open 8,91 ± 2,1 [mm/s], eyes closed 10,14 ± 2,9 [mm/s]. Conclusions. Results of the study show that intensive physical exercise has an adverse effect on dynamics of body control. The impairment of erect body position is more pronounced in sagittal plane. In state of fatigue eye sight is an important factor of stable body posture control.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the body balance control of people walking and hurdling with or without a specific dominant leg in a monopodal position. This study involved 28 physical education students. The center of pressure (COP) was measured with a force plate under four conditions: single-leg standing (right and left) with eyes open and two upper limb positions (the arms were positioned in either a specific hurdle technique manner or alongside the body). A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted separately for five parameters of the COP in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions under the four conditions. In the single-leg position, athletes without a dominant lower leg had better body balance than those with a dominant lower leg. The position of the upper limbs influenced the body position when hurdling. Accepting the correct position of the upper limbs helped to maintain balance (when overcoming hurdles). In hurdles, the position of the upper limbs should be improved to maintain postural stability and save this function for more demanding postural tasks.

Physical activity is known to have beneficial effects on a host of factors related to physical and mental health, and positively affects postural control. However, there is no agreement on which measures of postural control and to what extent they are dependent on the past and present physical activity in older adults. To answer this question we compared the postural performance in a 20-s quiet stance with eyes open on a Kistler force plate in 38 subjects, aged 60-92, who were formerly and are currently physically active (AA) with those who were always inactive (II) and those who were either formerly (AI) or are currently (IA) active. Results indicated that only current activity promoted better postural control while former activity was ineffective. Postural control in AA and IA was very similar and much better than in II and AI who, in contrast, displayed similarly deteriorated postural control.

INTRODUCTION:A healthy lifestyle is related to healthy practices, such as healthy diet, avoidance of psychoactive stimulants, appropriate level of physical activity, preventive behaviors, coping with stress, positive social relationships, and adjustments. University students do not usually engage in a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, excessive alcohol drinking among students is truly a health problem.

Background: Although balance skills and personality have been explored in the field of sports science, little is known about the relationship between the two factors. This study aims to investigate the association of postural balance with traits of personality and temperament. The differences between elite athletes, football players, and the control sample will also be examined.Methods: There were 73 participants in the cross-sectional study, aged between 16 and 30 years (M = 21.29, SD = 2.47), including 59% men. Three samples of participants consisted of elite athletes (AE, n = 17, 23.29%) from the Polish National Team; football players (FP, n = 32, 43.84%); and the control sample (CS, n = 24, 32.88%). Postural control was assessed on a force platform (Type 9286AA, Kistler Instrumente AG, Winterthur, Switzerland) with a sampling frequency of 100 Hz. The center of pressure (COP) parameter was measured for 20 s in both conditions with eyes open, and eyes closed, in both directions, anterior‒posterior (AP) and medial‒lateral (ML). The COP parameters include standard deviation (SD), mean range (RA), mean velocity (MV), and entropy (SE). The NEO-FFI questionnaire was used to assess the Big Five personality traits, whereas the FCB-TI was used to assess temperament.Results: One-way ANOVA revealed that the EA and CS groups were more stable in the ML direction than the FP group. In the AP direction, the athletes from the EA group were more stable than the CS group. Neither personality nor temperament differentiated the three groups of participants, apart from agreeableness, which was significantly lower in both the EA and FP groups. Openness to experience is positively associated with COP parameters, as was shown by the regression analysis. All together, COP parameters can explain for about 40% of openness variability.Conclusions: The results of this study showed that EA and CS have better stability than footballers in both the ML and AP directions. Openness seems to be related to postural balance skills.