THE IMPACT OF USING A PERSONALIZED OCCLUSAL MOUTHGUARDON POSTURAL BALANCE IN HIGHLY SKILLEDATHLETES SPECIALIZING IN KAYAK AND CANOE ROWING

Background. One of the modern means of rehabilitation of athletes with the restoration of a high level of muscle coordination is the use of an individual occlusal cap. Stabilometric research allows you to assess changes in the athlete's postural balance under the influence of various factors, in addition, testing of postural stability can be an important element of coordination training on stabilometric platforms. The peculiarities of changes in the postural balance of athletes specializing in various sports, in particular in kayaking and canoeing, under the influence of various training and rehabilitation programs remain insufficiently studied. The relevance of the topic is determined by the lack of studies aimed at assessing the impact of long-term wearing of an occlusal cap on the postural balance of rowing athletes. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of long-term use of an individual occlusal cap on the postural balance of highly qualified athletes specializing in kayaking and canoeing. Methods. To achieve the goal, methods of stabilometry and mathematical statistics were used. Results. It was found that after prolonged use of an individual occlusive footpad in difficult conditions of maintaining balance, namely in a narrow stance, with eyes open and closed, the speed of anteroposterior, mediolateral and planar movements of the center of pressure of the feet decreased in the athletes of the main group, the effect of using the footpad was maintained three months after stopping its wearing. The quality indicator of the balance function in conditions of a narrow stance with eyes open increased after a month of wearing the footpad by 77.0% compared to the initial indicator, in conditions of a stance with eyes closed the indicator increased by 80.8%, remaining 4 months after the start of the study higher by 44.0% compared to the initial indicator. In the control group, no significant changes in stabilometric indicators were observed. Conclusions. The study revealed a decrease in the speed of anteroposterior, mediolateral and planar movements of the center of pressure of the feet in narrow stance conditions and an increase in the quality of the balance function with eyes open and closed after prolonged use of an individual occlusive mouthpiece in qualified athletes specializing in kayaking and canoeing. It was shown that the effect of using an individual occlusive mouthpiece is prolonged and is observed three months after stopping wearing the mouthpiece, but already at a lower level, which indicates the need for regular use of an occlusive mouthpiece as a means of rehabilitation.