The purpose of this study was to analyse differences in postural stability between athletes with ID competing in Alpine and Cross country (XC) skiing to assess the effect of special sports training on postural stability in persons with ID. Methods: Athletes with ID were divided into four groups by their discipline: Alpine skiers (n = 9), XC skiers 2.5 to 10 km (n = 10), XC skiers 500 to 1000 m (n = 18) and XC skiers 50 and 100 m (n = 10). All participants were asked to stand barefooted on the Zebris FDM platform (Medical GmbH, Germany) with their eyes open and closed. To compare differences between groups one-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD test was used. To compare the difference between the eyes open and closed, t-test was used. Results: Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between Alpine and XC skiers in analysed variables. The analysis of COP velocity showed superior postural stability in XC skiers 2.5 to 10 km compared to XC skiers 500 and 1000 m. In XC skiers 500 and 1000 m, XC skiers 2.5 to 10 km and Alpine skiers a significant increase in COP velocity was observed when having the eyes closed. In XC skiers 50 and 100 m, no statistically significant differences between the eyes open and closed conditions were observed. Conclusions: Despite different sports training, no difference between Alpine and XC skiers in postural stability was observed. When comparing XC skiers, better postural stability was observed in skiers running longer distances, suggesting that this sports training enhances balance skills needed in everyday life.
In Special Olympics, athletes’ foot deformities, abnormal postural patterns and overweight and obesity were observed to be more common than in the general population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between body composition and foot posture index. Additionally, the effect of gender and other factors on the body composition and foot posture index in athletes with intellectual disability (ID) were analyzed. Methods: 131 athletes with ID participated in this study: 36 table tennis players, 66 cross country skiers and 29 downhill skiers. Their body composition was assessed using the bioimpedance analysis InBody 230 (Biospace, Korea). The foot screening included the assessment of foot posture index, which evaluates the degree of pronated, supinated and neutral position of the foot, gait speed and the last part of the procedure consisted of a short questionnaire, providing the information about the type of housing, age, and the usage of orthotics. Results: A low correlation between body composition and some of the foot posture index criteria was observed. The mean foot posture index score in athletes with ID was observed to be slightly pronated, as also described in the general population, with no statistically significant difference between female and male athletes. The gender differences were observed only in body composition. Conclusions: The high body weight and body fat percentage observed in this study highlight the need for healthy lifestyle education in athletes with ID.
The main purpose of this research was to analyse the distribution of plantar pressures and foot characteristics during walking between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy. The secondary purpose was to test the effect of the customized orthopaedic shoes that were worn by the experimental group. Methods: Pregnant women (n = 73) were divided into 2 groups, control group (n = 38) and experimental group (n = 35) which completed 5 gait trials on a walkway (1.55m) at a self-selected velocity of gait, where force, pressure and remaining foot characteristics were sampled and displayed by Novel database pro m (version 25.3.24). Results: Analysis of foot characteristics did not reveal important changes. Analysis of the distribution of plantar pressures revealed few changes in the pre- and post-measurement of the experimental and control groups between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy. In the last measurement, there is a significant increase of peak pressure only in the midfoot area of the left foot (151.1 ± 41.2 kPa) and in the hindfoot area of the right foot (346.3 ± 104.1) of the experimental group. The control group exhibits similar pressure development for both of foot. Conclusions: Monitored parameters demonstrated in certain areas notably development of force and contact area. Results of foot characteristics did not reveal a significant changes. As both groups registered similar values in certain areas in a comparison of pre/post measurement characteristics, the influence of specific orthopaedic shoes cannot be conclusively demonstrated in the experimental group.
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