Postural stability decreases in elite young soccer players after a competitive soccer match

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of an official soccer match on postural stability in youth elite soccer players.DesignSingle-group pre-post design.SettingCompetitive soccer match.ParticipantsTwenty elite U-19 male soccer players (mean age: 17.7 ± 1.0 years) of which 11 completed the full experimental set-up.Main outcome measuresPostural stability evaluated by unilateral stance tests for dominant and non-dominant lower limbs on a force plate under two visual conditions: eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed (EC).ResultsAfter the match, the centre of gravity (CoG) sway velocity with EO increased on the dominant and non-dominant limbs (median [interquartile range], 0.90°/s [0.60–1.10] vs. 1.10°/s [0.60–1.60]; and 0.70°/s [0.50–0.90] vs 1.00°/s [0.70–1.30]; respectively; p < 0.05). The CoG sway velocity with eyes closed did not change pre- to post-match.ConclusionsThe soccer match decreased the postural stability only when the assessment was conducted with eyes open.