[Influence of ski boots on balance performance]. / Einfluss des Skischuhs auf das Gleichgewichtsverhalten.

INTRODUCTION: Modern ski carving technique demands that skiers have a strong sense of balance and edge their skis with precision and feeling. Stiff ski boots facilitate the transfer of power to the ski but increase the difficulty of balancing. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of ski boots on balance performance of alpine skiers. METHODS: 76 experienced skiers (female 33/male 43) and 76 ski racers of the Skigymnasium Stams (female 31/male 45) were tested on the MFT S 3 Check with and without ski boots. RESULTS: Ski boots significantly influenced balance. There were also significant differences between experienced skiers and ski racers, but gender differences were minimal. DISCUSSION: In addition to general conditioning, skiers should utilise general and ski-specific balance and sensomotor training which could help in ski injury prevention, especially knee injuries.

[S3-Check--evaluation and generation of normal values of a test for balance ability and postural stability]. / S3-Check--Evaluierung und Normwerteerhebung eines Tests zur Erfassung der Gleichgewichtsfähigkeit und Körperstabilität.

INTRODUCTION: Balance is very important in daily living, but there are practically no balance evaluation methods which fulfill scientific criteria and are available to the fitness community and other groups. The aims of this paper are to determine if the MFT-S3-Check, a system to measure balance, is scientifically objective, valid and reliable; and to establish norms for the MFT S 3-Check system. METHODS: Reliability was evaluated with 30 subjects in two testing sessions on two different days. Objectivity was determined by having two different test administrators test 10 subjects. Norms were generated from the data of over 5000 subjects (8 - 70 years of age). Validity was checked by comparing norms to data collected from 758 tests performed on ski racers (10 - 18 years of age). RESULTS: The objectivity and reliability tests for the sensor motor and stability indexes produced correlations which were moderate to very high. Norms were created for all age groups (female, male). The ski racers had significantly better values than the norms. DISCUSSION: The MFT S 3-Check fulfills the scientific criteria and is in use in fitness settings and in physiotherapy.