Comparison of Static and Dynamic Balance at Different Levels of Sport Competition in Professional and Junior Elite Soccer Players

Abstract

Jadczak, Ł, Grygorowicz, M, Dzudziński, W, and Śliwowski, R. Comparison of static and dynamic balance at different levels of sport competition in professional and junior elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The purpose of this study was to compare body balance control and balance recovery strategies of professional football players, representing various sports levels in static (eyes open, eyes closed) and dynamic conditions, both on the dominant and nondominant leg. Three groups of professional and junior elite soccer players were investigated: a PRO group (n = 52), a U-21 group (n = 55), and a U-19 group (n = 47). The study of body balance control was performed using a Delos Postural Proprioceptive System measurement tool. The analysis of the results showed an effect of group (p < 0.01) and leg significance (p < 0.95) in the dynamic test. Three-way analysis of variance (3 [group] × 2 [leg] × 2 [eyes]) of static test data showed that the main effect of eyes (p < 0.0001), group (p < 0.0001), and leg (p = 0.0092) and the 2-way interaction of eyes × group (p = 0.0003) were significant. To represent statistical significance, the cutoff value was set to be p ≤ 0.005 for all measures. Our results indicate the importance of evaluation and monitoring of dynamic and static balance on both legs, which allows for a comprehensive comparison of body balance control and the balance recovery strategy depending on the represented sport level. Our study indicates that the higher the sport level of football players (the PRO group), the better their balance, which may indirectly contribute to the prevention of injuries and more effective performance of any actions directly related to the game.

Relationship Between Sport Expertise and Postural Skills

“…In an immobile sport activity, without holding a rifle and without specific clothing (i.e., non-ecological condition), elite shooters (competition shooters) had better postural performance than non-elite (military) shooters in visual and nonvisual conditions (Aalto et al, 1990). In mobile sports, there would be also a relationship between sport performance and postural performance in athletes practicing different activities such as soccer, gymnastics, golf, baseball, and stand-up paddle board (Paillard et al, 2006, 2007b, 2011; Paillard and Noe, 2006; Sell et al, 2007; Asseman et al, 2008; Butler et al, 2016; Schram et al, 2016; Jadczak et al, 2018; Pau et al, 2018). However, for a given sport, it is not always possible to distinguish the athletes’ postural performance according to their competition levels in the standard postural conditions (e.g., bipedal quiet stance) often used by experimenters (Paillard et al, 2002; Asseman et al, 2004).…”

Relationship between Respiratory Muscle Function and Postural Stability in Male Soccer Players: A Case-Control Study

“…Perhaps this finding is related to the level of competition of our players, who belonged to an under-23 group, and not to a first division team. Jadczak et al [29] showed that the more highly trained teams have better balance.…”

Controle postural em atletas de esportes coletivos de salto versus sem características de salto: um estudo comparativo

“…Esses resultados divergem em relação aos nossos achados, muito provavelmente por diferenças importantes entre eles, já que, em nosso trabalho foram incluídos atletas jovens em fase de maturação dos sistemas sensoriais, bem como atletas que atuam em nível de competição amador. Já o trabalho de Halabchi et al 17 incluiu atletas mais velhos (19 anos) e que atuam em nível profissional, e esse fator é relevante, ao passo que o nível de competição interfere sobre o controle postural, conforme indicam Jadczak et al 18 . Esses autores encontraram, em atletas de futebol, que o nível de competição interferiu no equilíbrio dos mesmos, ou seja, os atletas profissionais apresentaram um controle postural superior do que os demais grupos em nível competitivo menor.…”