Effect of Sensory Interaction on the Balance Ability of Freestyle Ski Aerials Athletes

Objective: To explore the difference of balance regulation of freestyle ski aerials athletes under the interaction of various sensory systems, and to investigate the influence of different sensory inputs on athletes' balance. Methods: Twenty-five national freestyle ski aerials athletes(14 males of 21.43±3.98 years and 11 females of 19.45±5.00 years) were tested. The sway velocity(SV)center of pressure(COP) was recorded in four conditions: stable surface eye opening(T1), stable surface eye closure(T2),unstable surface eye opening(T3) and unstable surface eye closure(T4), then the functions of various sensory were analyzed by(SV). Results: 1) The SV values of both male and female athletes were significantly increased when their vision was interfered(P<0.05); 2) The SV values of both male and female athletes were significantly increased when their proprioception was interfered(P<0.01); 3) The SV values of both male and female athletes were increased significantly when their vision and proprioceptive sensation were interfered at the same time(P<0.01); 4)Compared with the condition of proprioception interference, the change degree of visual perception of female athletes were increased without interference, but the male athletes was relatively small; 5) Compared with the condition of visual sensation interference, the change degree of proprioceptive sensation of both male and female athletes were increased; 6) When vision and proprioception were interfered at the same time, the change degree of SV in female athletes was(55.83±9.59)%, and that in male athletes was(55.66±14.57)%. Conclusions: 1) Vestibular sensation has the main function for male and female athletes to maintain their balance under different conditions; 2) Other sensory systems will substitute the ability to maintain balance when a certain sensory system is disturbed; 3) The substituted sensory system in male and female athletes are not the same when the visual or proprioceptive sensation is interfered.