Dynamic postural stability, is associated with competitive level, in youth league soccer players

Objectives: To assess the effect of competitive level on dynamic postural stability in young elite and subelite soccer players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: Fifty-four male soccer players of Under 16 and Under 17 categories (mean age 15.9 +/- 0.6), divided into two groups who regularly compete at national (n = 28) and regional (n = 26) levels. Main outcome measures: Dynamic Postural Stability Index (DPSI) and vertical Time to Stabilization (vTTS) for a forward-jump landing. Static postural sway was calculated on the basis of center-of-pressure trajectories for a 20 s one-legged stance. Results: Players at national level exhibit better dynamic postural control than those at regional level, as indicated by the significantly lower DPSI (0.327 vs. 0.373, p < 0.001) and vTTS (0.887 vs. 1.158 s, p = 0.003). In contrast, no differences between groups were found in any of the postural sway parameters for the static test. Conclusions: Young soccer players at national level are characterized by better balance performance in terms of faster and more efficient stabilization after a forward jump, while one-leg static standing tests appear not challenging enough to reveal differences in balance abilities associated with the combination of superior technical and physical features. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.