Evaluation of Reaction Time during the One-Leg Balance Activity in Young Soccer Players: A Pilot Study

• Main Authors: Fábio Saraiva Flôres (Author), Joana Lourenço (Author), Lucy Phan (Author), Simon Jacobs (Author), Renata Matheus Willig (Author), Priscila Ellen Pinto Marconcin (Author), Nuno Casanova (Author), Denise Soares (Author), Filipe Manuel Clemente (Author), Ana Filipa Silva (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

This study's aim was two-fold: (i) to test the intra-session reliability of the one-leg balance activity test; and (ii) to assess the influence of age on reaction time (RT) and the differences between dominant and non-dominant feet. Fifty young soccer players with an average age of 12.4 ± 1.8 years were divided into two groups: younger soccer players (n = 26; 11.6 ± 0.9 years) and older soccer players (n = 24; 14.2 ± 0.8 years). Each group then completed four trials (two with each leg) of the one-leg balance activity (OLBA) to evaluate RT under a single-leg stance. Mean RT and the number of hits were calculated, and the best trial was also selected. <i>T</i>-tests and Pearson correlations were performed for statistical analysis. Values for RT were lower, and the number of hits was higher while standing on the non-dominant foot (<i>p</i> = 0.01). MANOVA revealed that the "Dominant Leg" factor did not affect the multivariate composite (Pillai Trace = 0.05; F(4, 43) = 0.565; <i>p</i> = 0.689; Partial ETA Squared = 0.050; Observed Power = 0.174). The "Age" factor did not present an effect on the multivariate composite (Pillai Trace = 0.104; F(4, 43) = 1.243; <i>p</i> = 0.307; Partial ETA Squared = 0.104; Observed Power = 0.355). The results of the present investigation demonstrate that RT may be lower while standing on the non-dominant foot.

Item Description

10.3390/children10040743
2227-9067