The influence of strength exercises of the lower limbs on postural stability: A possible role of the autonomic nervous system

AIM OF STUDY: The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of different types of strength exercises on the posturographic parameters as a postural stability indicators and selected plasma catecholamine levels as a marker of sympathetic nerve activity in basketball players. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample included 13 male, well-trained basketball players, aged 22.3 ± 2.9 y, with a training experience of 8.6 ± 2.3 years. Participants performed three consecutive exercises in successive weekly microcycles. The athletes performed isometric, concentric and eccentric exercises, with random restriction. Postural stability of all subjects was evaluated using a force plate before and after each exercise. RESULTS: The results revealed a significantly higher effect on the range of sway (RoS) with eyes closed in medial/lateral direction after concentric exercise and RoS with eyes closed in both directions after eccentric and isometric exercises. A significantly higher effect on the standard deviation of sway was observed in the anterior-posterior axis with eyes closed (p= 0.041) and velocity of COP displacement with open eyes(VCOP_OE) (p= 0.007) after the isometric exercises. A modulating effect of the applied exercise types on plasma NA and A levels was not observed, and the results demonstrated that serum 5HT was elevated in response to concentric exercise while diminished in response to both isometric and eccentric exercises. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that all types of applied exercises impair posture control during single leg stance on a force plate in basketball players but isometric exercise of proximal musculature to a greater extent negatively affects posture control in comparison with distal musculature. Moreover, among the investigated monoamines in well trained athletes, 5HT predominantly took part in modulation of locomotor activity.