INFLUENCE OF EXPERTISE AND PLAYING POSITION ON POSTURAL CONTROL OF YOUNG AND ADULT ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS

Introduction In soccer, balance represents a key factor to achieve an optimal performance level and reduce the risk of lower limb injuries. In particular, it has been demonstrated that soccer players exhibit, due to the specific training, superior postural control in unipedal stance conditions with respect to either untrained subjects or athletes of other disciplines (Matsuda et al, 2008, 2010). Nevertheless, the effects of playing position and expertise have been scarcely investigated (Bizid and Paillard, 2006, Paillard et al., 2006). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the possible changes in postural control performances in young and adult elite soccer players according OP-BN06 Biomechanics [BM] 6 598 18TH ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE to their age (and thus expertise) and playing position. Methods A total of 83 adult and young athletes who compete in national tournaments, were recruited for the study. In particular we tested players of Italian first league (Serie A, n=23) and youth leagues (Under 19, n=19, Under 17, n=26, Under 15, n=15). Using a pressure platform, time series of center of pressure (COP) position were acquired under bipedal (BP) and unipedal (UP) conditions. Data processing allowed to calculate Sway Area (SA), COP Path Length, COP displacements in Antero-Posterior (AP) and Medio-Lateral (ML) directions, as well as COP velocity. Results Under BP conditions, no statistically significant differences were observed between the teams or different playing positions. For the single leg stance, no effect of limb was detected, while playing position influenced all the considered variables except COP velocity in ML direction, and team was responsible for changes in SA only. In particular, post-hoc analysis revealed that midfielders achieved the best performances and defenders the poorest. Also, youngest players of Under 15 team were characterized by SA values significantly higher than both Under 19 and Serie A team. Discussion An interesting result of this study is represented by the superior balance performance exhibited by the midfielders, probably due to their habit to handle the ball for longer times during a match. It is also noticeable that the effect of age on postural control is evident only in UP stance, being the youngest athletes characterized by the worst postural control. Our data also suggest that BP tests might not be sensitive enough to investigate balance in soccer players. Consistently with previous studies, no differences in postural sway were found between dominant and non-dominant limb. References Matsuda S, Demura S, Uchiyama M. (2008) J Sports Sci.26(7), 775-779 Matsuda S, Demura S, Demura T. (2010) Percept Mot Skills 110(3), 751-760 Bizid R, Paillard, T. (2006) Science & Sports 21(1), 23-25 Paillard T et al. J Athl Train (2006) 41(2), 172-176