Functional Variability in Team-Handball Players during Balance Is Revealed by Non-Linear Measures and Is Related to Age and Expertise Level

Abstract

Postural control is considered a key variable in team sports, such as handball, which require abilities strongly related to balance. However, postural control and its relationship to the performance of handball skills according to the players’ skill level and age has not been evaluated to date. This study analyzes the relationship between balance ability and team-handball performance according to age and expertise, applying a non-linear approach to balance assessment. Postural control from 114 male team-handball players was analyzed through the center of pressure (COP) during a balance task. Sport performance was measured by the accuracy and speed in throwing. Expert players threw faster, but not more accurately than recreational players. Balance performance was better for 18+ players (older than 18 years old) than those U12 (under 12 years old), but no differences were found according to their skill level. Players who threw with less accuracy showed slower COP velocity during the balance task and their moves were less irregular. Players who threw faster displayed more irregular and less auto-correlated COP movements. In conclusion, experienced team-handball players exhibited better balance performance, and this seems to be related to the maturation of the motor system more than to sport performance level. Nevertheless, non-linear measures of COP excursion revealed an exploratory behavior during balance in expert players, exhibiting more motion adjustments to reduce motor output error. Traditional variables measuring balance performance did not show sensitivity to this motor control process. A non-linear approach to balance assessment revealed functional variability during balance as an intrinsic characteristic of individuals’ motor control according to age and skill level.

The Role of Neuromuscular Control of Postural and Core Stability in Functional Movement and Athlete Performance

“…Experienced team-handball players exhibit better balance performance, which is more associated with the maturation of the motor system than their performance level ( Caballero et al, 2020 ). It seems that players with a higher level of expertise exhibit a better ability to perform motion adjustments to reduce motor output error ( Caballero et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Experienced team-handball players exhibit better balance performance, which is more associated with the maturation of the motor system than their performance level ( Caballero et al, 2020 ). It seems that players with a higher level of expertise exhibit a better ability to perform motion adjustments to reduce motor output error ( Caballero et al, 2020 ). Although postural adjustments during a balance task have a differential feature in expert players, this ability is not crucial for a tennis serve performance ( Caballero et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Similarly, there is a lack of correlation between balance, measured with scattering variables in a non-specific task, and tennis serving speed and accuracy ( Caballero et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, balance is not associated with team-handball performance ( Caballero et al, 2020 ). Although the accuracy of the throws revealed a slight positive correlation with mean CoP velocity magnitude (players with better throw accuracy moved faster during the balance task), there was a negative correlation between the ball speed and bivariate variable error in experts ( Caballero et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Furthermore, balance is not associated with team-handball performance ( Caballero et al, 2020 ). Although the accuracy of the throws revealed a slight positive correlation with mean CoP velocity magnitude (players with better throw accuracy moved faster during the balance task), there was a negative correlation between the ball speed and bivariate variable error in experts ( Caballero et al, 2020 ). Nevertheless, low-to-moderate correlations between unipedal balance ability and the players’ technical level suggest that some technical soccer skills improve more after balance than typical soccer training ( Cè et al, 2018 ).…”

The Motor Impact of the Static Balance in the Up Plank Position on Three Different Balls in Physical Activities of Physical Education Students

“…Balls of different compositions, with different characteristics of elasticity and adhesion, as well as with different sizes and weights, are used in the practice of physical activities and in therapy in order to improve the static and dynamic body balance [ 2 , 3 , 4 ], and the proprioception and strength [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], as well as in neuro-muscular and functional rehabilitation [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The balls that are used in physical activities are made by a specific technology from materials such as butadiene rubber, from polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride.…”