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

Abstract

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.