An assessment of static and dynamic balance effectiveness in one-leg stance of young footballers

Purpose. Balance allows multidirectional lower limb movements that improve technical football skills and reduce injury
caused by match activities. This study aimed to evaluate the static and dynamic balance of preferred and nonpreferred legs
during unipedal stance in young footballers and investigate correlations between the two types of balance across each
parameter.
Methods. Forty-three youth players (mean age = 15.81 ± 1.33 years, height = 179.50 ± 6.14 cm, body mass = 69.73 ± 9.35 kg)
were involved in this study. Static balance was assessed via ellipse area (EA), perimeter length (P), anterior-posterior deviation
(APD), medial-lateral deviation (MLD), trunk deviation (TD), average anterior-posterior speed (AAPS), and average medial-lateral
speed (AMLS). The total stability index (TSI) and trunk total deviation (TTD) dynamic parameters were also examined.
Results. None of the static balance parameters showed significant differences between standing on the preferred and nonpreferred
legs. Similarly, no meaningful distinctions were observed between the preferred and nonpreferred legs in terms of dynamic
balance parameters. Overall, static and dynamic balances indicated no correlation, although minor connections were found
between parameters: TTD and EA (r = 0.332; p = 0.03), TTD and MLD (r = 0.335; p = 0.02), and TTD and TD (r = 0.423;
p = 0.01)
Conclusions. The balance evaluation in young football players should incorporate dynamic and static assessments because
the postural control outcomes in these two tasks are independent. Participants underwent testing for both static and dynamic
balance, revealing no noticeable differences between their preferred and nonpreferred legs.
Key words: postural stability, unipedal stances, youth footballers.