Assessment of Static Balance and Proprioceptive Control in Female Judokas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2220-7481-2025-04-79-86Keywords:
proprioceptive balance; postural control; center of pressure; static stability; female athletes; balance assessmentAbstract
Background. Postural control and proprioceptive balance are essential components of performance in judo, where athletes must continuously stabilize their body under multidirectional perturbations. However, few data are available regarding the static balance characteristics of young female judokas. Objective. This study aimed to assess descriptive and correlational aspects of static proprioceptive balance by analyzing center-of-pressure average angular deviations in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions and their relationships with overall balance performance. Methods. Fifteen junior female judokas (15–18 years), each one having at least four years of competitive experience, performed a 10-second static bipedal balance test by means of the SensaMove Balance Board (MiniBoard). Performance (%) and average deviations (°) in the front, back, left and right directions were recorded without visual feedback. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD, SEM, range, 95 % confidence level, skewness) and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated. Results. Front–back deviations showed consistently negative mean values (–0,38° to –0,89°) with moderate variability, indicating stable anteroposterior control. Left–right deviations were centered around zero (–0,83° to 0,12°) but had higher dispersion (SD = 1,76°–2,31°), reflecting greater mediolateral variability. Overall performance was relatively high (77,60 ± 8,47 %). Significant correlations revealed that performance was more strongly associated with anteroposterior stability, whereas mediolateral deviations were closely related to front–back parameters, suggesting cross-planar interactions in postural regulation. Conclusions. Young female judokas exhibit good static proprioceptive balance characterized by small center-of-pressure deviations and efficient postural stabilization. Anteroposterior control appears more stable, while mediolateral regulation shows greater variability and may represent a target for training optimization. These findings support the inclusion of multidirectional and sport-specific balance exercises in judo conditioning programs.
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