Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline

# Background Balance and postural stability are required of figure skaters throughout on-ice performance. Spinning, jumping, and landing each rely on this skill set to maintain control while skaters manage changing demands for each skating discipline. # Hypothesis/Purpose The aim of this study wa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: L. Colby Mangum, Andrew Skibski, Luk Devorski, Lindsay Slater
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North American Sports Medicine Institute 2023-08-01
Series:International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.81598
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1823857570523119616
author L. Colby Mangum
Andrew Skibski
Luk Devorski
Lindsay Slater
author_facet L. Colby Mangum
Andrew Skibski
Luk Devorski
Lindsay Slater
author_sort L. Colby Mangum
collection DOAJ
description # Background Balance and postural stability are required of figure skaters throughout on-ice performance. Spinning, jumping, and landing each rely on this skill set to maintain control while skaters manage changing demands for each skating discipline. # Hypothesis/Purpose The aim of this study was to compare balance error scoring system (BESS) performance in figure skaters between disciplines and determine if age was related to BESS performance. # Study Design Cross-sectional study. # Methods Three hundred and fifty-eight figure skaters (age: 15.4±3.3 years, 213 females, 145 males) of multiple disciplines completed the BESS during the United States Figure Skating's Standardized Testing of Athleticism to Recognize Skaters (S.T.A.R.S.) combine. Errors during each condition of the BESS were recorded by trained evaluators. A 3x6 ANOVA was used to determine BESS differences based on skating discipline. Spearman's rho (ρ) correlation coefficients were calculated for relationships between BESS errors and age. # Results Ice dancers had more errors than singles and pairs for bipedal foam (p\<0.001) but had fewer errors than single skaters for single leg foam (p=0.002). Tandem on a firm surface also showed an increase in errors for ice dancers and pairs skaters compared to singles (p\<0.001). There were significant weak negative relationships noted between age and bipedal foam and single leg firm conditions (ρ=-0.14, -0.23, p\<0.05). # Conclusion Figure skaters of different disciplines have varying levels of static postural stability. Assessing postural stability in figure skaters can provide insight to improve performance and may identify skaters at risk of injury. # Level of Evidence 3
format Article
id doaj-art-6f4edb1bc37b4b0f91a6004eabe68b40
institution Kabale University
issn 2159-2896
language English
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher North American Sports Medicine Institute
record_format Article
series International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
spelling doaj-art-6f4edb1bc37b4b0f91a6004eabe68b402025-02-11T20:29:55ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962023-08-01184Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on DisciplineL. Colby MangumAndrew SkibskiLuk DevorskiLindsay Slater# Background Balance and postural stability are required of figure skaters throughout on-ice performance. Spinning, jumping, and landing each rely on this skill set to maintain control while skaters manage changing demands for each skating discipline. # Hypothesis/Purpose The aim of this study was to compare balance error scoring system (BESS) performance in figure skaters between disciplines and determine if age was related to BESS performance. # Study Design Cross-sectional study. # Methods Three hundred and fifty-eight figure skaters (age: 15.4±3.3 years, 213 females, 145 males) of multiple disciplines completed the BESS during the United States Figure Skating's Standardized Testing of Athleticism to Recognize Skaters (S.T.A.R.S.) combine. Errors during each condition of the BESS were recorded by trained evaluators. A 3x6 ANOVA was used to determine BESS differences based on skating discipline. Spearman's rho (ρ) correlation coefficients were calculated for relationships between BESS errors and age. # Results Ice dancers had more errors than singles and pairs for bipedal foam (p\<0.001) but had fewer errors than single skaters for single leg foam (p=0.002). Tandem on a firm surface also showed an increase in errors for ice dancers and pairs skaters compared to singles (p\<0.001). There were significant weak negative relationships noted between age and bipedal foam and single leg firm conditions (ρ=-0.14, -0.23, p\<0.05). # Conclusion Figure skaters of different disciplines have varying levels of static postural stability. Assessing postural stability in figure skaters can provide insight to improve performance and may identify skaters at risk of injury. # Level of Evidence 3https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.81598
spellingShingle L. Colby Mangum
Andrew Skibski
Luk Devorski
Lindsay Slater
Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
title Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
title_full Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
title_fullStr Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
title_full_unstemmed Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
title_short Balance Error Scoring System Performance Differences in Figure Skaters Based on Discipline
title_sort balance error scoring system performance differences in figure skaters based on discipline
url https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.81598
work_keys_str_mv AT lcolbymangum balanceerrorscoringsystemperformancedifferencesinfigureskatersbasedondiscipline
AT andrewskibski balanceerrorscoringsystemperformancedifferencesinfigureskatersbasedondiscipline
AT lukdevorski balanceerrorscoringsystemperformancedifferencesinfigureskatersbasedondiscipline
AT lindsayslater balanceerrorscoringsystemperformancedifferencesinfigureskatersbasedondiscipline