ORIGINAL ARTICLE  SPORT INJURIES AND REHABILITATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2022 March;62(3):350-5

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12040-7

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Long-term effects of asymmetrical posture in boxing assessed by baropodometry

Paolo DE BLASIIS ^{1, 2} ✉, Allegra FULLIN ¹, Paolo CARAVAGGI ³, Giacomo LUS ¹, Mariarosa A. MELONE ¹, Simone SAMPAOLO ¹, Antonio DE LUCA ², Angela LUCARIELLO ⁴

¹ Second Division of Neurology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy; ² Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy; ³ Movement Analysis Laboratory, Rizzoli IRCCS Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy; ⁴ Department of Sport Sciences and Wellness, Parthenope University of Naples, Naples, Italy

BACKGROUND: Asymmetrical posture maintained over long training periods may affect phenotypic plasticity, resulting functional to sporting goal but negative to the locomotor system. Aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate these long-term effects in competitive boxers.
METHODS: Baropodometric analysis was used to assess 20 competitive boxers and 20 non-sportsmen in upright bipedal posture for 5 s and for 51.2 s with open (OE) and closed (CE) eyes.
RESULTS: The boxers’ group (BOX) showed a larger total foot load (TFL) (p=0.022) on the right foot and a larger rearfoot load (RfL) (P=0.011) on the left foot compared to non-sport controls (CTR). Moreover, a larger forefoot load (FfL) (P=0.001) on the right foot respect to left one was found in the BOX group, with the inversion of the RfL to FfL ratio (P=0.001) between two feet, while no significant differences were found in the CTR group. These findings, associated to a significantly larger center of foot angle (COF) in the BOX group, may indicate an anticlockwise rotation of the anatomical structures above the ankle joint of the right hemisoma respect to the left one, that appears to be consistent with the orthodox stance. Eventually, the BOX group showed a larger centre-of-pressure sway area (COPsa) in the OE condition than what measured in the CE and a significant difference in Romberg Index (BOX< CTR).
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study seem to confirm the theory of neuromuscular plasticity imprinted by the repetitive movements and long-lasting postures. Moreover, competitive boxers show an increase of proprioceptive function and a decrease of visual dependence on the postural control.

KEY WORDS: Postural balance; Neuronal plasticity; Boxing