title: Ground surface nature can influence visual information contribution in postural control.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In sport, the nature of ground surface is likely to influence the contribution of visual information on postural control. Boxing and wrestling are respectively practiced on firm and soft ground surfaces. The aim was to compare the postural control of boxers with that of wrestlers on stable (firm) and unstable (soft and dynamic) ground surfaces, with and without deprivation of vision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen male international boxers and 15 male international wrestlers presenting the same anthropometrics characteristics and the same number of years of sports practice were recruited. Spatiotemporal parameters of displacement of the center of feet pressure (COP) were measured on a force platform in static (firm and foam surfaces with eyes open and eyes closed) and dynamic conditions (medio/lateral and antero-posterior directions with eyes open and eyes closed).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results mainly showed a significant vision × group interaction in the antero-posterior direction for the dynamic postural condition (P<0.017). This indicated that the contribution of visual information was greater for the boxers than for the wrestlers in challenging condition (P=0.030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to confirm whether the nature of ground surface influences the contribution of visual information, which can be, in turn, affected by the specificity of motor skills.
authors.affiliation: Sport Performance and Health Research Unit, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saîd, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jlid
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Tunis Military Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hajer R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kachlouf
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Tunis Military Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maaoui
authors.affiliation: Sport Performance and Health Research Unit, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saîd, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia - csouhaiel@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: M Souhaiel
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chelly
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Activity, Performance and Health, Department of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour, Tarbes, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paillard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001914:Boxing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014952:Wrestling