Changes in the static balance of primary school students after six months of wrestling training

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Abstract
Background and Study Aim. Balance plays a key role in many sports, particularly those that require precise movements and continuous body control. The aim of the study was to verify or disprove changes in the ability to maintain static balance after six months of wrestling training under conditions of reduced visual input and limited support surface. Material and Methods. The study included twenty-three male primary school pupils who participated in wrestling training. Their average age was 13.00 ± 1.48 years. The average height was 156.7 ± 35.22 cm, and the average body weight was 58.7 ± 19.00 kg. Training experience ranged from 1 to 2 years. The Romberg test was conducted using a freeSTEP STANDARD stabilometric platform with a sampling frequency of 250–400 Hz to assess static balance. The analysed stabilometric parameters included: total path length (PL) of foot pressure; confidence ellipse area (CEA); mean velocity (MV), defined as the total CoP path in 30 seconds; root mean square (RMS) of sway in the medial-lateral direction (X-RMS); and RMS in the anteroposterior direction (Y-RMS). Results. For the two-leg standing test, the values of PL, CEA, MV, X-RMS, and Y-RMS showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). The effect sizes were small (η² < 0.10), indicating low sensitivity of these parameters to the intervention. In the one-leg standing test, on both the right and left legs, no significant differences were found (p > 0.05) in PL, CEA, X-RMS, and Y-RMS between eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. However, mean sway velocity (MV) increased significantly under EC conditions compared to EO, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Conclusions. The lack of significant differences in the two-leg stance may reflect stable postural control development in this age group. However, selective neuromuscular adaptation in postural control was observed under more demanding one-leg stance conditions. Therefore, it is advisable to modify wrestling training programmes for schoolchildren to include more complex equilibrium and sensorimotor challenges.

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