AGE-RELATED PECULIARITIES OF VERTICAL POSTURE REGULATION IN MALE JUDOKAS AGED 7-15 YEARS
A child’s posture regulation system develops along with the body’s growth and the maturation of the central nervous, sensory, and muscular systems. It is believed that by the age of 12, posture stability reaches an adult level and does not change significantly from then on. The authors suggested that complex coordination sports training would contribute to the development and stabilization of vertical posture regulation at an older age. The aim of this paper was to study age-related features of vertical posture regulation in judokas aged 7-15 years. Materials and methods. The subjects ( n = 43) were divided into three age groups: 7-9 years, 10-12 years, and 13-15 years. Vertical posture regulation was studied using stabilometry in a standing position with eyes open and closed, on a foam mat with eyes open and in a visual biofeedback test. Results. The area and velocity of centre of pressure (COP) oscillations in all tests were lower in judokas aged 10-12 and 13-15 years compared to 7-9-year-olds; no differences were found between the athletes aged 10-12 and 13-15 years. However, the power of high-frequency COP oscillations in all tests was the lowest in 13-15-year-old athletes, indicating continuing development of postural regulation. Thus, despite complex coordination training, which has a positive effect on the system of posture regulation, static postural stability in judokas increases up to12 years of age and then stabilizes. Detailed research is required on posture regulation in athletes in later puberty and in postpuberty.