DIFFERENCES IN LOWER LIMB STABILITY BETWEEN ATHLETIC AND NON-ATHLETIC YOUNG WOMEN

The purpose of the study is to identify the effects of performance sports practice by young women on the stability of the lower limbs. 19 female performance athletes (21.67±3.33 years, 171.5±4.82 cm, 68.86±7.70 kg) and 21 untrained girls (21.62±2.42 years, 163.3±5.96 cm, 57.26±7.33 kg) were measured. Stability was determined with the MFT Challenge Disc Bluetooth 2.0. Two pre-set software tests (unilateral and bilateral) were applied, each performed with free arms and the hands on the hips. Applying One-way Anova, significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding unilateral balance (F(7,147)=9.702, p<0.0001), as well as bilateral balance (F(3,76)=5.459, p=0.0019). The comparison of the results between them showed that the female athletes had worse results in bilateral and lateral measurement. Untrained females obtained the best unilateral result on the left side with hands on hips (2.20±0.60). Bilaterally, the same group obtained a better result than female athletes when testing with hands on the hip (2.20±0.60). The differences between the two sides show stability for each group. Our study reveals a better stability of untrained girls compared to athletes, an aspect that can be clarified by further investigations.