Factors influencing static postural control performance of collegiate marching artists

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of surface and instrument on static postural control performance of collegiate marching artists. Fifty-seven collegiate marching artists completed single- and double-leg stance balance with and without an instrument on firm and foam surfaces (four conditions per stance). Two, 15-s trials of each condition were performed on a tri-axial force plate. Total, antero-posterior, and medio-lateral centre-of-pressure excursion, and 95% ellipse sway area were collected. Means from the two trials were averaged. Linear mixed-effects models were fit with centre-of-pressure variables as predictors with fixed effects of surface and instrument, adjusting for number of seasons in marching band and type of instrument. Alpha level was set a priori at p ≤ 0.05. Standing on foam surface, regardless of stance, elicited longer excursion and larger sway area (p < 0.05 for all). Although number of seasons participated in marching band did not influence static postural control under single-leg stance, there was a significant effect for double-leg stance (p < 0.01). Marching artists commonly rehearse and perform on unstable surfaces. Understanding static postural control performance under similar conditions may provide novel and important information for injury risk assessment and performance evaluation.