Effects of Surface Type on Balance Control Strategies in Handstand

Introduction. A proper manner of maintaining body balance in handstand requires high levels of motor and coordination skills and, first and foremost, specialist training. Therefore, this study sought to determine the effects of surface type on body balance strategies in handstand. Material and Methods. The study included twelve Polish National Team artistic gymnasts with training experience of 16.5 ± 2.12 years. Pedagogical experiment was used as the research method. Body balance assessment of gymnasts was carried out using three tests on different types of the surface. In the first test, the study participants performed handstand on the hard surface. The second one involved executing handstand on canes, whereas the third test consisted in performing handstand on the soft surface. Results. An increase in ground reaction forces (Fx, Fy) was noted in the handstand tests performed on canes (SNS) and on the soft surface (SNA). Conclusions. The analysis revealed that the surface type exerts an influence on the effectiveness of balance control. The findings may constitute the source of knowledge for athletes and coaches about changing conditions of maintaining a stable position when performing handstand during gymnastic training.