Dynamic and static stability in para-athletes with cerebral palsy considering their impairment profile.

BACKGROUND: Balance impairment is a common feature in people with cerebral palsy (CP), affecting the performance of daily-life and physical activities. OBJECTIVES: To (1) explore the absolute and relative intrasession reliability of two balance tests to assess dynamic and static balance in ambulant para-athletes with CP; (2) explore the relationships between the two balance tests to determine potential application in sport classification; (3) assess the differences between CP profiles (ie, spastic diplegia, athetosis/ataxia, and spastic hemiplegia) in comparison to those with a minimum impairment; and (4) compare the outcomes of the static and dynamic balance of ambulant para-athletes with CP regarding controls. METHODS: A group of 129 male well-trained para-footballers with CP, classified as Level I according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System, participated in the present study. Static balance was assessed using the One-Leg Stance test, performed bilaterally on a force platform, and the dynamic balance was assessed in two conditions of the Tandem Walk test (TW): walking heel-toe contact over a 5 -m straight line and performing 10 steps. RESULTS: Moderate-to-excellent intrasession reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.60-0.98) was obtained for all the measurements and groups. However, only small to moderate correlations were found between the dynamic and the static measurements of balance for the CP group when performing the One-Leg Stance test with the unimpaired or dominant leg (0.23 < r < 0.30; P < .01). The TW performed over 10 steps revealed more sensitivity to discriminate between CP profiles. Those para-athletes with ataxia/athetosis performed worse in all the tests whereas all CP profiles performed worse than the control group (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Balance performance and postural control are constrained to a higher extent in those with impaired voluntary control due to ataxia or with involuntary contractions of the muscles due to athetosis.

Balance dynamics are related to age and levels of expertise. Application in young and adult tennis players.

In tennis, coaches consider balance fundamental for the acquisition of skilled motor performance. However, the potential relationship between balance and tennis expertise and performance has not been explored yet. Therefore, this study assessed the relationship between balance and tennis performance using linear and non-linear parameters through 1) the comparison of tennis players of different ages and levels of expertise, and 2) analyzing the relationship between balance and tennis serving speed and accuracy. One hundred and six recreational and expert male tennis players took part in the study (age range 10-35 years old). Temporal dynamics of postural control during a balance task on an unstable surface were analyzed through the mean velocity and the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAV) of center of pressure (COP). Tennis serve performance was quantified by measuring accuracy and speed. Traditional variables measuring balance performance only showed differences according to age but not to sport performance. COP showed a reduction of auto-correlated variability (reflected by DFAV) with age but mainly in expert players. COP dynamics was the only balance parameter discriminating sport expertise and it was related to age. Balance dynamics exhibited by expert tennis players DFAV results support the idea that, along the years, sport experience induces balance adaptations characterized by a higher ability to perform postural adjustments. These results also reinforce the use of non-linear analysis to reveal subtle balance adaptations produced by sport practice. Finally, the lack of correlations suggests that balance, measured with scattering variables, in a non-specific task is not a main determinant of sport performance in tennis serve.

Mechanical, hormonal and psychological effects of a non-failure short-term strength training program in young tennis players.

This study examined the effects of a 6-week non-failure strength training program in youth tennis players. Twenty tennis players (age: 15.0 ± 1 years, body height: 170.9 ± 5.1 cm, body mass: 63.3 ± 9.1 kg) were divided into experimental and control groups. Pre and post-tests included half squats, bench press, squat jumps, countermovement-jumps and side-ball throws. Salivary cortisol samples were collected, and the Profile of Mood States questionnaire was used weekly during an anatomical adaptation period, a main training period and after a tapering week. The results showed that, after the main training period, the experimental group significantly improved (p<0.05) in mean and peak power output and in the total number of repetitions during the half-squat endurance test; mean force, power and velocity in the half-squat power output test; Profile of Mood States (in total mood disturbance between the last week of the mean training period and the tapering week); and in squat-jump and countermovement-jump height. Moreover, significant differences were found between the groups at the post-tests in the total number of repetitions, mean and peak power during the half-squat endurance test, mean velocity in the half-squat power output test, salivary cortisol concentration (baselines, first and third week of the mean training period) and in the Profile of Mood States (in fatigue subscale: first and third week of the mean training period). In conclusion, a non-failure strength training protocol improved lower-limb performance levels and produced a moderate psychophysiological impact in youth elite tennis players, suggesting that it is a suitable program to improve strength. Such training protocols do not increase the total training load of tennis players and may be recommended to improve strength.

Variable training: effects on velocity and accuracy in the tennis serve.

Variable practice has been shown to be an effective strategy to improve open motor skills. However, the usefulness of this procedure in closed motor skills remains controversial. The following study has the objective of analysing the effects of variability practice in the improvement of a closed skill. The skill studied has been the tennis serve. Thirty young tennis players (13 ± 1.52 years), divided in two groups, took part in this study. One group practiced in variable conditions and the other group in consistency conditions. Both groups performed 12 training sessions (60 serves/session). The variable practice group improved their accuracy significantly compared with the consistency group (F3.25 = 3.078; P = 0.035). The velocity of serve increased after training in both groups (F3.25 = 15.890; P = 0.001). The practice in variable conditions seems to be effective in improving the performance of the tennis serve.