Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the differences of postural control (PC) between elite and general collegiate archers during static and shooting conditions. Methods: Nineteen collegiate archers were recruited as elite archers (EA, n=9, FITA scores: 1210.1±19.1 points, age: 20.2±1.6 years, height: 170.0±6.1 cm, weight: 81.2±25.6 kg) and general archers (GA, n=10, FITA scores: 1122.5±47.3 points, age: 20.1±1.0 years, height: 173.3±9.6 cm, weight: 70.1±14.9 kg) according to the scores of single round, International Archery Federation (FITA). PC was measured with a portable three-axis force plate, which sample rate was set at 1,000 Hz as mean radius, velocity, and the sway area of the center of foot pressure (COP) during different testing conditions. The static testing posture included single/double limb(s) standing with open/closed eyes. The shooting testing posture included two times 6 arrows archery shooting for 50 meters. Results: No significant differences were found in static testing condition between groups. However, EA showed significant low COP sway velocity and area in shooting condition than GA (3.53 ± 0.75 vs. 4.42±0.93 mm/s, t=-2.31; 2.98±1.43 vs. 6.50±4.16 mm^2, t=-2.41). Furthermore, the COP sway area was also significant lower during the better high-scores shooting arrows than poor lower shooting scores arrows (4.49±3.70 vs. 5.30±4.29 mm^2, t=-2.48). Conclusions: Elite collegiate archers showed better PC during shooting conditions and high-scores shooting arrows which demonstrated the close relationship between high archery performance and well postural control ability.