English

Abstract

Introduction: Surfing is a discipline that has considerably increased the number of followers who practice this sport. Research has focused on describing the main variables associated with performance, but not the relationships that may exist between them. Objective: To establish the relationship of dynamic postural balance with respect to the anthropometric profile and physical aptitude in surfers. Material and method: This research is an observational and cross-sectional study of a descriptive-correlational type. The sample included 30 surfers (8 women and 22 men). The variables of the anthropometric profile studied were body mass, bipedal height, body mass index (BMI), sum of folds, body composition and somatotype. Furthermore, physical aptitude was assessed by indirect tests. The data of the anthropometric profile and physical aptitude were correlated with the results of the dynamic postural balance test (Y balance test). Results: For the anterior direction of the Y balance test, the variables that were significant were gender, body weight, bipedal height, sum of folds, adipose mass and Sargent’s jump height (R2 = 0.55). The posteromedial direction of the Y balance test yielded a significant model that indicates that gender, sum of folds and adipose mass are the variables that jointly predict dynamic postural balance (R2 = 0.30). For the posterolateral direction, the model indicates that the BMI, sum of folds, adipose mass, mesomorphism, ectomorphism and performance in the sit and reach test are the variables that influence the performance of the Y balance test (R2 = 0.55). Conclusion: Predictive models were established to determine anthropometric and physical condition variables that would be decisive for the performance of a surfer’s postural balance.