TAEKWONDO ATHLETES HAVE BETTER POSTURAL CONTROL THAN HANDBALL AND AMERICAN FOOTBALL ATHLETES

ABSTRACT Introduction: Postural control is an important prerequisite for an athlete’s performance in sport. In addition, the postural control system contributes to injury prevention. Deficits in this system can lead to body instability and overload of musculoskeletal structures generating dysfunction and pain. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate postural control in three different sports modalities: taekwondo, handball, and American football. Methods: All athletes performed a one-legged stance/balance test on a force platform in the right and left lower limbs. Three tests of thirty seconds each were performed with eyes open. The mean of the three tests was used to measure the parameters of postural control, pressure center and velocity of anteroposterior and mediolateral displacements. Results: Significant differences were observed among the three groups in all analyzed parameters (P=<0.04). Post-hoc analysis revealed that taekwondo athletes had better postural control (P=<0.035) of lower limbs compared to the other two modalities. There were no significant differences between handball and American football. Conclusion: Taekwondo athletes have better postural control during the one-legged stance/balance test than handball and American football athletes.

摘要
引言：姿势控制（Postural control）是运动员完成运动表现的重要前提。此外，姿势控制系统在损伤预防中发挥关键作用。该系统出现功能缺陷时，可引发身体不稳及肌肉骨骼结构超负荷，进而导致功能障碍与疼痛。
研究目的：本研究旨在评估跆拳道、手球与美式橄榄球三种不同运动项目运动员的姿势控制能力。
研究方法：所有运动员受试者均在测力平台（force platform）上分别完成双侧下肢的单腿站立平衡测试。测试共进行3组，每组持续30秒，受试者睁眼完成。取3组测试的平均值作为姿势控制参数的测量依据，包括压力中心（pressure center）前后向与内外向的位移速度。
研究结果：三组受试者的所有分析参数均存在显著组间差异（P≤0.04）。事后检验（post-hoc analysis）结果显示，与另外两类项目运动员相比，跆拳道运动员的下肢姿势控制能力更优（P≤0.035）。手球运动员与美式橄榄球运动员之间未观察到显著组间差异。
结论：在单腿站立平衡测试中，跆拳道运动员的姿势控制能力优于手球与美式橄榄球运动员。