LAUSR

OBJECTIVE Basketball players often display poor balance and increased injury rates when compared to other athletic categories. Therefore, the relationship between postural control and injury risks in basketball athletes requires investigation. The purpose of this study was to: (a) establish a postural profile of elite women basketball players, (b) compare postural control of the different playing positions to detect the vulnerability of postural balance, and (c) attempt to understand the reasons underlying these differences. PATIENTS AND METHODS 30 elite female basketball players (aged 21.4±2.3 years) were assigned to three groups according to their playing positions (n=10 guards; n=10 forwards; n=10 centers). A one-way analysis of variance was performed to determine differences between balance test variables under three conditions (static, dynamic antero-posterior and medio-lateral). When a significant main effect was observed, Tukey's post-hoc multiple comparisons tests were used to determine statistical significance. Associations between balance and morphological variables, muscle strength and power were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS Results reveal that basketball players had better postural control than previously studied handball players and non-athletes, but they are more dependent on vision than other categories. When comparing postural controls of playing position, centers show greater vulnerability [Y mean (OE)] than forwards: p<0.001; or guards: p<0.01), due to morphological factors (body mass r=-0.80, height r=-0.68, and lower limb length r=-0.63, and specific power r=-0.40). CONCLUSIONS Therefore, coaches and strength and conditioning specialists should give specific focus to improving lower limb strength and power in centers and taller basketball players to mitigate against injury risks related to postural control.