Amit Hadad1, Natalie Ganz1, Nathan Intrator2, Neta Maimon3, Lior Molcho4, Jeffrey M Hausdorff5. 1. Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility, Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel. 2. Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. 3. Neurosteer Inc., Herzliya, Israel; The School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel. 4. Neurosteer Inc., Herzliya, Israel. 5. Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility, Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, United States. Electronic address: jhausdor@tlvmc.gov.il.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Karate training likely leads to enhanced postural control, however, previous studies did not always include a healthy, physically active comparison group and the findings are inconsistent. RESEARCH QUESTION: Will the postural control of experienced karate practitioners be better than that of experienced swimmers, i.e., athletes with similar characteristics who do not practice under conditions that require upright postural control? METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 20 experienced, male karate practitioners and 20 experienced, male swimmers, ages 20-50, performed four standing postural control tasks of increasing difficulty: (a) two-legged stance with eyes open; (b) one-legged stance with eyes open; (c) one-legged stance with eyes closed, and (d) a dual-task, one-legged stance with eyes closed and a verbal fluency challenge. The primary outcome measure was a functional, behavioral measure that reflects the loss of balance. Specifically, in tasks that included one-legged stance, every touch of the raised foot to the floor was counted. Center-of-gravity movements were measured using a wearable sensor. RESULTS: Task-related differences were seen in all of the postural control measures. In the OneLegEyesClosed task, the median number of touches was 0.00 in the karate group and 6.50 in the swimming group (p < 0.001). In the OneLegEyesClosedWords task, the median number of touches was 0.00 in the karate group and 5.00 in the swimming group (p < 0.001). Shannon entropy, a measure of the complexity of the sway of the center-of-gravity, was lower in the karate group (p = 0.002), compared to the swimmers. SIGNIFICANCE: Karate training is associated with a higher level of postural control, even when compared to a physically active age-matched comparison group. In addition to supporting the specificity of exercise training principle, these findings raise the intriguing possibility that karate may be useful as a form of pre-habilitation, potentially aiding in the prevention of age-associated declines in balance control.
BACKGROUND: Karate training likely leads to enhanced postural control, however, previous studies did not always include a healthy, physically active comparison group and the findings are inconsistent. RESEARCH QUESTION: Will the postural control of experienced karate practitioners be better than that of experienced swimmers, i.e., athletes with similar characteristics who do not practice under conditions that require upright postural control? METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 20 experienced, male karate practitioners and 20 experienced, male swimmers, ages 20-50, performed four standing postural control tasks of increasing difficulty: (a) two-legged stance with eyes open; (b) one-legged stance with eyes open; (c) one-legged stance with eyes closed, and (d) a dual-task, one-legged stance with eyes closed and a verbal fluency challenge. The primary outcome measure was a functional, behavioral measure that reflects the loss of balance. Specifically, in tasks that included one-legged stance, every touch of the raised foot to the floor was counted. Center-of-gravity movements were measured using a wearable sensor. RESULTS: Task-related differences were seen in all of the postural control measures. In the OneLegEyesClosed task, the median number of touches was 0.00 in the karate group and 6.50 in the swimming group (p < 0.001). In the OneLegEyesClosedWords task, the median number of touches was 0.00 in the karate group and 5.00 in the swimming group (p < 0.001). Shannon entropy, a measure of the complexity of the sway of the center-of-gravity, was lower in the karate group (p = 0.002), compared to the swimmers. SIGNIFICANCE: Karate training is associated with a higher level of postural control, even when compared to a physically active age-matched comparison group. In addition to supporting the specificity of exercise training principle, these findings raise the intriguing possibility that karate may be useful as a form of pre-habilitation, potentially aiding in the prevention of age-associated declines in balance control.
Authors: Anna Akbaş; Wojciech Marszałek; Sławomir Drozd; Wojciech Czarny; Paweł Król; Krzysztof Warchoł; Kajetan J Słomka; Marian Rzepko Journal: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil Date: 2022-05-13
Authors: Hajer Mustafa; Aimee Harrison; Yao Sun; Gregory E P Pearcey; Bruno Follmer; Benjamin M Nazaroff; Ryan E Rhodes; E Paul Zehr Journal: BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil Date: 2022-04-11