title: Postural control in 13-year-old soccer players.
abstract: To evaluate the effect of early systematic soccer training on postural control we measured center-of-pressure (COP) variability, range, mean velocity and frequency in bipedal quiet stance with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC) in 44 boys aged 13 (25 boys who practiced soccer for 5-6 years and 19 healthy boys who did not practice sports). The soccer players had better stability, particularly in the medial-lateral plane (M/L); their COP variability and range were lower than in controls in both EO (p < 0.05) and EC (p < 0.0005) condition indicating that the athletes were less dependent on vision than non-athletes. Improved stability of athletes was accompanied by a decrease in COP frequency (p < 0.001 in EO, and p < 0.04 in EC) which accounted for lower regulatory activity of balance system in soccer players. The athletes had lower COP mean velocity than controls (p < 0.0001 in both visual condition), with larger difference in the M/L than A/P plane (p < 0.00001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Postural behavior was more variable within the non-athletes than soccer players, mainly in the EC stances (p < 0.005 for all COP parameters). We conclude that: (1) soccer training described was efficient in improving the M/L postural control in young boys; (2) athletes developed specific postural strategies characterized by decreased COP frequency and lower reliance on vision.
authors.affiliation: Academy of Physical Education, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bieć
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuczyński
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*