EFFECTS OF LEISURE SPORTS PARTICIPATION PERIOD ON BALANCE AND THE LOWER EXTREMITY ASYMMETRY

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the sports participation on balance measurements and lower extremity symmetry. Eighty healthy middle-aged adults (male 35, women 45) were participated in this study. COP related variables were selected for both double and single leg standing as center of pressure anterior posterior (COP-AP) and medial lateral (COP-ML) displacement, center of pressure mean velocity (COP-MV), center of pressure area (COP-Area), and the symmetry index (SI) of dominant and non-dominant leg. Only the COP-MV showed statistically difference for both double and single leg standing test. However, no significant differences were observed for single leg standing asymmetries. As a result, long term sports participation has positive effects on balance which can be helpful to prevent falls in middle-aged adults.