Vestibular Assessment in University Students Participating in Boxing and Basketball

This study aims to evaluate the balance of basketball players and boxers compared with a control group. Balance is vital for athletes in terms of performance enhancement, injury prevention, coordination development, and reaction time. Another aim of the study is to determine which sport is negatively impacted more by potential injuries that may occur during a match. All participants in the study will undergo neurological evaluations accompanied by preliminary diagnostic tests and vestibular assessments using posturography and V-HIT. A study group consisting of basketball players and boxers, along with a control group of individuals who do not engage in regular exercise, has been established. Vestibular evaluations will be conducted for both athletes and nonathletes within the sample group. In this context, the given tests will be applied as appropriate. The findings indicate that each sport affects specific balance parameters differently. The results reflect engagement in movements that require balance and coordination. It is evident from the findings that basketball players exhibit better balance in left anterior body orientation, while boxers demonstrate greater balance in right orientation control and left body orientation. The negative effects of impacts during boxing and basketball matches were not noted in the neurological evaluation, V-HIT, and Static petrography tests. These results establish a crucial foundation for understanding how sports influence balance and for creating training, rehabilitation, and educational programs aimed at enhancing athletes' performance. This study emphasizes existing knowledge gaps in the literature and provides a framework for future research.