Pre-pubertal males practising Taekwondo exhibit favourable postural and neuromuscular performance.
BACKGROUND
The postural and neuromuscular performances in healthy children taekwondo (TKD) practitioners in comparison with control children were examined.


METHODS
Seventeen healthy pre-pubertal males undertaking only physical education at school (age: 11.88 ± 0.33 years) and 12 pre-pubertal male TKD practitioners (>3 years, 4 sessions a week) (age 11.66 ± 0.49 years) were recruited. Performances in the dynamic postural control (Star Excursion Balance Test -SEBT), vertical jump [squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ)] and sprint running (distances: 5, 10, 20 and 30 m) tests were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The performances of the TKD practitioners were better than those of the non-TKD active for the SEBT (for 14 of 16 conditions, p < 0.05), SJ (p < 0.01), CMJ (p < 0.03) sprint running (5 m, p < 0.01; 10 m, p < 0.04; the performances for the 20 and 30 m sprints were not significant, p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TKD practice would stimulate sensory input and motor output of the postural system that would enhance its efficiency. In addition, the dynamic nature of TKD would develop the muscle power of the lower limbs. In our sample of healthy pre-pubertal males, TKD appears to improve postural and neuromuscular functions, but further research is required.
Research Unit of Sport Performance and Health, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mohamed Chedly
MC
Jlid
Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Salerno, Italy ; Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Mile End Hospital, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
Nicola
N
Maffulli
Unité de Recherche Evaluation, Sport, Santé, Centre National de Médecine et Science en Sport, Tunis, Tunisie.
Nisar
N
Souissi
Research Unit of Sport Performance and Health, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mohamed Souheil
MS
Chelly
Laboratoire Activité Physique, Performance et Santé (EA 4445), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Département STAPS, ZA Bastillac Sud, 65000 Tarbes, France.
Thierry
T
Paillard
Postural control; Pre-pubertal male; Sprint running; Taekwondo; Vertical jump