Purpose. The aim of the present work was to identify factors and neurophysiological mechanisms that may determine a robust and very stable postural control in athletes. Basic procedures. Postural performance in quiet stance was compared in 23 volleyball players from the Polish second league with 24 age-matched healthy physically active male subjects (controls). All participants stood quietly for 20 s on a force plate with their eyes open, while the center of pressure (COP) was recorded with the sampling rate of 20 Hz in both: the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) planes. From the recorded signals the COP dispersion measures, postural frequency and stiffness were computed. Main findings. The players displayed lower COP variability in the ML plane (p < 0.05) and lower COP range than controls in both planes (p < 0.01). Their COP mean velocity was higher in the AP plane (p < 0.0001) and the ML plane (p < 0.01) than in controls. Together, these findings indicated the presence of an additional low-amplitude and high-frequency signal superimposed on the COP in athletes but not in controls. Superior body stability and different mode of automatic postural control observed in the players challenge recent views on the relationships between attention resources allocation and its consequences to the selection and implementation of postural strategies. Conclusions. The volleyball players have superior body stability and different mode of automatic postural control as compared with the control group. Postural strategies of athletes may result from slight muscular adjustments that adopt mechanisms similar to stochastic resonance to monitor an instantaneous body vertical with greater efficiently.
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Purpose. The aim of the paper was to determine the effect of respiration on body balance in quiet standing. Basic procedures. Postural performance during quiet standing was compared in 37 young healthy subjects in two trials on a force plate: first with natural breathing, and then with accelerated high-volume breathing at the rate of 1 Hz. Each trial included 20 s quiet standing with eyes open, and the center of pressure (COP) was recorded with the sampling rate of 20 Hz in both anterior-posterior (AP) and mediallateral (ML) planes. Based on the recorded signals the COP dispersion measures and postural frequency were calculated. Main findings. The forced respiration contributed significantly to the increase in all COP stability measures in the AP plane: dispersion (p < 0.01), range (p < 0.001) and mean velocity and frequency (p < 0.00001). In the ML plane only mean velocity (p < 0.001) and frequency (p < 0.01) were affected. Conclusions. In view of the evidence provided by other authors that stress tests increase the amplitude- and frequency-based stability measures, our results indicate that the contribution of natural accelerated breathing after strenuous physical exercise will bias the results of stabilographic studies, rendering them worthless in understanding the role of neuromuscular fatigue in stability deterioration. Such studies must use data collected after the respiration returns to normal rate. However, if the study aims at overall assessment of postural stability post-fatigue, the postural testing may be performed immediately after the stress test.
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Background: Tennis is characterized with short and intermittent efforts of an altering intensity and time where numerous factors determine the achieved success. Some of them include human's morphological body build, motor abilities and efficiency of the energetic systems. Both motor abilities and physical capacity appear to be particularly significant due to the unpredictable time and weather situation of the tournaments. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between body composition, aerobic capacity and the balance in young tennis players at rest and during fatigue triggered by an endurance test. Moreover, we tried to find the correlation between the tennis ranking position and the balance.Material/Methods: Well-trained 16 young tennis players (15 and 17 years old, singles national ranking 3-39, average training experience of 9 years) took part in this study. They were assigned to two groups according to their age - 15 TG and 17 TG. Participants completed the same battery of body composition, aerobic, and body balance assessments. Body balance measurement was repeated twice - before and after the aerobic assessment.Results: The main finding of this study points out the body balance to be a motor ability influencing results achieved in the specific tennis drill. This connection was observed in both of the tested groups; however, it was particularly significant within 17 TG.Conclusions: The presented study does not point out the main factor to focus on when conducting a career of a professional tennis player regardless of the numerous tests and measurements included in the analysis observed. Interesting correlations may suggest that for the players in a developmental age it is speed and balance that ought to be more intensively developed.
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Celem pracy jest ocena skuteczności fizjoterapii rozszerzonej o różne formy treningu marszowego na bieżni u osób starszych z obniżoną sprawnością fizyczną i zaburzeniami równowagi w przebiegu osteoporozy. Badaniem objęto 9 mężczyzn i 21 kobiet w wieku 60-80 lat. Pacjentów podzielono losowo na dwie równe grupy (kontrolną i badawczą). W grupie kontrolnej zastosowano trening chodu do przodu na bieżni ruchomej, a w grupie badawczej trening chodu do tyłu. Jako narzędzie badawcze wykorzystano testy funkcjonalne, m.in.: Tinetti, Functional Reach Test, Get Up and Go oraz badanie momentu siły mięśni czworogłowych stawów kolanowych. Wyniki badań wskazują, że trening chodu do tyłu na bieżni ruchomej w istotny sposób wpływa na poprawę sprawności fizycznej osób starszych i może być specyficzną i skuteczną formą kształtowania ich równowagi ciała.
EN
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of physiotherapy consisting of various forms of gait training on a treadmill in elderly patients with reduced physical fitness and with balance disorders. The examination group consisted of 9 men and 21 women aged 60-80 years and they were randomly divided into two groups (control and test). The gait exercises on a treadmill were based on walking forward in the control group and on walking backward in the test group. The following tests were employed for the purpose of the research: Tinetti test, Functional Reach Test, Get Up and Go Test. The strength of quadriceps muscles of the knee joints was examined as well. The research results show that backward walking on the treadmill significantly influences balance and physical fitness in elderly people and it may be an effective way of improving balance in the elderly.
Objective of the research. Health risks that may occur at a later age in children with fetal dystrophy are well-known. There is a lack of research on motor development and changes in body composition in children with fetal dystrophy. The results so far are contradictory. Hence, the study was undertaken to indicate the differences in body composition, ability to respond quickly and ability to maintain dynamic balance in children aged 8-13 years, depending on hypotrophy and hypertrophy at birth. Material and methods. The study of body composition involved children aged 8-13 years. The respondents were divided into 3 groups: hypotrophic children (n=18), eutrophic children (n=138) and hypertrophic children (n=15) in accordance with accepted standards. To measure body composition a ’Tanita BC-418MA Body Composition Analyzer’ was used and the method of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) was applied. The tests of ability to maintain dynamic balance were conducted using a Balance Master® posturograph, NeuroCom®. The ability to respond quickly was evaluated with the application of OptoGait system, MicrogateS.r.l.. Results of the research. It was found that fatty and non-fatty components of body composition show increasing characteristics. The lowest values described the children with hypotrophy of the fetus, and the highest values – the children with hypertrophy of the fetus. The research proved that the dystrophy of birth weight does not differentiate the ability to maintain dynamic balance and the ability to respond quickly in children aged 8-13 years. Conclusions. It was found that: (1) In relation to eutrophic children, children with hypotrophy at birth are characterized by lower values of all parameters related to body composition. Whereas children with hypertrophy at birth are characterized by higher values of the above mentioned parameters. (2) There were no differences in terms of the ability to maintain dynamic balance and the ability to respond quickly in the children aged 8-13 years depending on dystrophy at birth.
PL
Cel badań. Zagrożenia zdrowotne mogące wystąpić w późniejszym wieku u dzieci z dystrofią płodu są dobrze poznane. Brakuje badań dotyczących rozwoju motorycznego oraz zmian składu masy ciała dzieci z dystrofią płodu. Dotychczasowe wyniki są sprzeczne. Podjęto badania, których celem było wskazanie różnic w składzie masy ciała, zdolności do szybkiego reagowania oraz zdolności zachowania równowagi dynamicznej u dzieci w wieku 8-13 lat, w zależności od hipo- i hipertrofii urodzeniowej. Materiał i metody. Badaniami składu masy ciała objęto dzieci w wieku od 8 do 13 lat. Badanych podzielono na 3 grupy: hipotrofików (n=18), eutrofików (n=138) oraz hipertrofików (n=15) zgodnie z przyjętymi normami. Do badania składu masy ciała wykorzystano urządzenie „Tanita BC-418MA Body Composition Analyzer”. Zastosowano metodę Bioelektrycznej Analizy Impedancji (BIA). Badania zdolności zachowania równowagi dynamicznej wykonano przy wykorzystaniu posturografuBalance Master® firmy NeuroCom®. Zdolność do szybkiego reagowania oceniono przy wykorzystaniu systemu OptoGait firmy MicrogateS.r.l. Wyniki badań. Stwierdzono, że tłuszczowe oraz beztłuszczowe komponenty składu masy ciała wykazują rosnącą charakterystykę. Najmniejsze wartości cechowały dzieci z hipotrofią płodu a największe dzieci urodzone jako hipertroficzne. W niniejszym badaniu wykazano, żedystrofia masy urodzeniowej nie różnicuje zdolności zachowania równowagi dynamicznej oraz zdolność do szybkiego reagowania u dzieci w wieku 8-13 lat. Wnioski. Wykazano, że: (1) W stosunku do dzieci eutroficznych, dzieci z hipotrofią urodzeniową cechują niższe, a dzieci z hipertrofią wyższe wartości wszystkich parametrów składu masy ciała. (2) Nie stwierdzono różnic w przejawianiu zdolności do szybkiego reagowania oraz zdolności zachowania równowagi dynamicznej u badanych dzieci w wieku 8-13 lat, w zależności od dystrofii urodzeniowej.
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Celem pracy jest ocena koordynacji ruchowej w utrzymywaniu równowagi ciała w pozycji stojącej, na podstawie wielkości zakresu wychyleń dzieci, osób młodych i starszych aktywnych fizycznie. Do oceny stanu równowagi ciała u 255 osób wykorzystano metodę stabilograficzną, posługując się zestawem pomiarowym - Posturograf firmy Pro-Med. Wyniki testów stabilograficznych, oceniających koordynację ruchową w utrzymywaniu równowagi ciała w pozycji stojącej, są zróżnicowane w badanych grupach wiekowych. Badania wykazały wzrost zakresu wychwiań u dzieci, natomiast zmniejszenie u młodzieży i osób dorosłych. W wielkości zakresu wychwiań zaobserwowano brak różnicy istotnej statystycznie pomiędzy osobami dorosłymi a starszymi aktywnymi fizycznie. Uzyskane wyniki podkreślają korzystny wpływ aktywności fizycznej osób starszych na stabilność ciała w pozycji stojącej.
EN
The aim of this research was to assess the impact of motor coordination on maintaining body balance in the upright position on the basis of tilt range read-out of physically active children, young and elderly people. Body balance of the 255 subjects was assessed by means of the stabilographic method using Posturograf apparatus of the Pro-Med Co. The results of the stabilographic assessment were diversified in the examined age groups. They showed a growth of the tilt range in children and its decrease in the young and the elderly. No statistically significant difference was observed between the adults and the physically active elderly subjects. These results stress the positive influence of physical activity on body balance in the upright position in the elderly people.