Postural balance in a one-legged stance during cognitive task performance in football players with different autonomic regulation

Aim: This study investigates the impact of cognitive tasks on one-legged postural balance in football players, depending on heart rate variability. Materials and methods. Utilizing force platform measurements and cardiac interval data, the effect of heart rate variability on one-legged postural balance alone and under conditions of cognitive interference was studied. Autonomic regulation was classified according to cardiac interval data in the supine position. Cognitive interference consisted of analyzing first-person video recordings. Results. Our findings reveal that vagotonic and normotonic football players, as compared to sympathicotonic athletes, exhibit superior postural stability, as evidenced by reduced CoP deviations and enhanced balance control in the one-legged stance test. The introduction of cognitive tasks significantly compromises these benefits across all groups, with notable exceptions observed among vagotonics. Conclusion. The one-legged stance test combined with cognitive interference demonstrates reduced postural control, regardless of the type of autonomic regulation. Vagotonic football players demonstrate superior postural control in the one-legged stance test under conditions of cognitive interference.