title: Comparison of static balance and the role of vision in elite athletes.
abstract: When prescribing balance exercises to athletes in different sports, it may be important to recognize performance variations. Indeed, how athletes from different sports perform on balance tests is not well understood. The goal of the present study was to compare static balance and the role of vision among elite sprinters, jumpers and rugby players. The modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance (mCTSIB) was used to assess the velocity of the center-of-pressure (CoP) on a force platform during a 30 s bipedal quiet standing posture in 4 conditions: firm surface with opened and closed eyes, foam surface with opened and closed eyes. Three-factor ANOVA indicated a significant main effect for groups (F=21.69, df=2, p<0.001, η(2) = 0.34). Significant main effect of vision (F=43.20, df=1, p<0.001, η(2) = 0.34) and surface (F=193.41, df=1, p<0.001, η(2) = 0.70) as well as an interaction between vision (eyes open, eyes closed) and surface (firm and foam) (F=21.79, df=1, p=0.001) were reported in all groups. The subsequent Bonferroni-Dunn post hoc test indicated that rugby players displayed better static balance than sprinters and jumpers (p=0.001). The comparison of sprinters and jumpers did not reveal significant differences (p>0.05). The nature of the sport practiced and the absence of visual control are linked to modify static balance in elite athletes. Coaches and strength and conditioning professionals are recommended to use a variety of exercises to improve balance, including both exercises with opened and closed eyes on progressively challenging surfaces in order to make decisions about tasks and sensory availability during assessment and training.
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sport Performance Optimisation", National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Raouf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Behm
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sport Performance Optimisation", National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mokhtar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chtara
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sport Performance Optimisation", National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Aymen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Othman
authors.affiliation: Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sport Performance Optimisation", National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaouachi
keywords: Athletes; static balance; surface; vision
references.citation: J Hum Kinet. 2012 Jun;33:73-9
references.pmid: 23485960
references.citation: Neurosci Lett. 1998 Apr 10;245(3):155-8
references.pmid: 9605479
references.citation: Binocul Vis Strabismus Q. 1998;13(2):125-32
references.pmid: 9852435
references.citation: Int J Neurosci. 2005 Jan;115(1):87-97
references.pmid: 15768854
references.citation: Brain Res Bull. 2004 Mar 15;63(2):161-5
references.pmid: 15130706
references.citation: Hum Mov Sci. 2010 Jun;29(3):412-25
references.pmid: 20417980
references.citation: Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006 Apr;9(2):188-91
references.pmid: 16640477
references.citation: Br J Sports Med. 2008 Jan;42(1):16-21
references.pmid: 17496073
references.citation: Gait Posture. 2002 Apr;15(2):187-94
references.pmid: 11869913
references.citation: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2001 May;9(3):128-36
references.pmid: 11420785
references.citation: Sports Med. 2011 Mar 1;41(3):221-32
references.pmid: 21395364
references.citation: J Hum Kinet. 2013 Jul 05;37:39-45
references.pmid: 24146703
references.citation: Br J Sports Med. 2002 Aug;36(4):304-5
references.pmid: 12145123
references.citation: Rev Neurol (Paris). 2001 Sep;157(8-9 Pt 1):779-89
references.pmid: 11677398
references.citation: Neurosci Lett. 2004 Mar 25;358(2):83-6
references.pmid: 15026154
references.citation: Res Q Exerc Sport. 2002 Dec;73(4):386-95
references.pmid: 12495240
references.citation: Neurosci Lett. 2001 Aug 3;308(2):103-6
references.pmid: 11457570
references.citation: Gait Posture. 2008 Jul;28(1):38-45
references.pmid: 18023584
references.citation: J Athl Train. 2006 Apr-Jun;41(2):172-6
references.pmid: 16791302
references.citation: Neurosci Lett. 2004 Aug 5;366(1):71-5
references.pmid: 15265593
references.citation: J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Aug;26(8):2071-7
references.pmid: 21997455
references.citation: Exp Brain Res. 2001 Jan;136(1):1-18
references.pmid: 11204402
references.citation: J Hum Kinet. 2012 Jun;33:25-32
references.pmid: 23487417
references.citation: Phys Ther. 2000 Sep;80(9):896-903
references.pmid: 10960937
references.citation: Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 Aug;92(4-5):407-13
references.pmid: 15205962
references.citation: Physiother Res Int. 2003;8(4):187-99
references.pmid: 14730723
references.citation: Percept Mot Skills. 1994 Feb;78(1):67-74
references.pmid: 8177690
references.citation: Gait Posture. 2009 Jul;30(1):55-9
references.pmid: 19342241