Identifying the Best Indicator of Assessing the Athletes Balance in the Sudden Perturbation Test

The aims of this study were to identify the most appropriate indicator to assess the balance in the sudden perturbation test conditions.
In this study, 13 freestyle national wrestlers at the age of 20.5±2.4 and 13 normal subjects with average age of 23.5±1.4 were used recruited. Balancing test was carried out under two conditions: standing with the guard (guard) and stand feet shoulder width apart (standing). To measure the balance parameters, the RS-scan system was used, and for external perturbation movable plant with weights equal to 12% of the mass was used. The independent t-test for statistical analysis in each direction between the two groups was used.
Center of pressure (CoP) travel distance in the anterior, posterior and external directions, wrestlers were more than those in normal individuals in both positions; for guard position (p = 0.01, p = 0.01, p = 0.5) and (p = 0.2, p = 0.5, p = 0.01) in stand position. The COP average speeds in the anterior, posterior and external directions in both conditions were more in wrestlers than that normal group, (p = 0.01, p = 0.08, p = 0.01) in the guard position and (p = 0.27, p = 0.1, p = 0.01) in the stand position. The wrestlers were able to get stable as soon as possible in both positions and in four direction (p=0.001).
Athletes in sudden perturbation want to reach equilibrium and stability in shorter time by increasing speed CoP. Thus it seems, time to stability can be a good indicator for balance evaluating.