The Effects Of Eight-week Archery Training On Postural Control In Young Children

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of an eight-week archery training program on postural control (PC) in young children during the standard, aiming, and archery shooting standing posture. METHODS: Thirty-two young children were recruited and grouped as experimental group (E, 16 children, Height 138.66±7.45 cm, Weight 34.47±9.29 kg) or control group (C, 16 children: Height 136.75±6.01 cm; Weight 36.34±6.92 kg). The E group underwent archery training for forty minutes a time, three times a week, for eight weeks, and the C group did not received any regular physical training. PC was evaluated by the measurement of COP displacement on a force platform as the COP radius, speed and sway area during each testing position. The training program was planned by expert archery coaches and based on the training of basic archery skill and coordination. Data were analyzed by the mixed design, two-way ANCOVA to determine if any difference in PC between groups before and after training during the standard posture. Repeated measures, dependent t test was also used to determine if any difference in PC before and after training during the aiming and shooting posture in experimental group. The significant level for statistic was set at p<.05. RESULTS: 1. No significant differences were found in PC during each testing position before and after the eight-week period in C group; 2. The COP radius and sway area were significantly decreased after archery training in E group during the standard, aiming, and shooting posture, but not in the COP velocity. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that regular eight-week archery training not only improved the performance of archery shooting, but also improved the PC during the standard, aiming, and shooting posture. The results of this study could provide a practical training regimen for archery coaching and understand the possible relationships between the archery performance and PC.