Postural control in athletes of jump team sports versus without jump features: a comparative study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the postural control of young athletes of jump team sports versus without jump characteristics, in order to identify possible differences between groups.

Method: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of male amateur athletes from the Sub-15 and Sub-17 categories, who were in the current competition. The athletes were allocated in two groups, the jump group (N = 46), consisting of athletes of volleyball, basketball and handball; and the group without jump characteristics, consisting of athletes who did not have the jump as a characteristic motor gesture (soccer and futsal, N = 44). The evaluation of the postural control was performed through Computerized Dynamic Posturography, in which the Sensory Organization Tests (TOS) were divided into six conditions and of the systems responsible for maintaining the control postural (visual, vestibular and somatosensory) and the Test in unipodal support. For statistical analysis, a descriptive statistic was used, and the Mann-Whitney test was used for intergroup comparison.

Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in the sensory conditions of the TOS and in the Analysis of Sensory Systems. However, jump athletes had a greater postural oscillation in the assessment of unipodal balance (0.99±0.50°/s.), compared to the group without jump characteristics (0.75±0.28°/s.), demonstrating worse postural control (p= 0.02).

Conclusion: The results suggest differences in postural control in unipodal support between groups, indicating the importance of directing training and prevention programs specific to each sport modality, considering the characteristic motor gesture and the maturational aspects inherent to young athletes.