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Article

Balance Training and Shooting Performance: The Role of Load and the Unstable Surface

by
Stylianos Kounalakis
*,
Anastasios Karagiannis
and
Ioannis Kostoulas
Faculty of Physical and Cultural Education, Evelpidon Hellenic Army Academy, 16673 Athens, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2024, 9(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9010017
Submission received: 12 December 2023 / Revised: 29 December 2023 / Accepted: 29 December 2023 / Published: 3 January 2024

Abstract

Military and law enforcement members’ shooting ability is influenced by their postural balance, which affects their performance and survivability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a proprioception training program (standing or walking on unstable surfaces) on postural balance and shooting performance. Twenty participants, divided into two groups, completed 60 shots in a shooting simulator while standing, before and after a 4-week proprioception training program. One group (n = 10) followed the training program (EXP), while the other group followed the regular military academy program (CON). The shooting was conducted under four conditions: without load on a stable surface, with load on a stable surface, without load on an unstable surface, and with load on an unstable surface. The findings reveal that the training program had a significant impact on the EXP, improving their balance (p < 0.01). Additionally, only in the EXP, shooting score and the percentage center of gravity increased (p < 0.01) and the stability of the shots, measured by holding time on the target, doubled from 2.2 to 4.5 s (p < 0.01). These improvements were more pronounced when participants had a load and/or were on an unstable surface. In conclusion, a proprioception training program could be beneficial for improving postural balance and shooting performance.
Keywords: postural sway; external load; military personnel; law enforcement personnel; uneven terrain postural sway; external load; military personnel; law enforcement personnel; uneven terrain

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Kounalakis, S.; Karagiannis, A.; Kostoulas, I. Balance Training and Shooting Performance: The Role of Load and the Unstable Surface. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2024, 9, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9010017

AMA Style

Kounalakis S, Karagiannis A, Kostoulas I. Balance Training and Shooting Performance: The Role of Load and the Unstable Surface. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2024; 9(1):17. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9010017

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kounalakis, Stylianos, Anastasios Karagiannis, and Ioannis Kostoulas. 2024. "Balance Training and Shooting Performance: The Role of Load and the Unstable Surface" Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 9, no. 1: 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9010017

APA Style

Kounalakis, S., Karagiannis, A., & Kostoulas, I. (2024). Balance Training and Shooting Performance: The Role of Load and the Unstable Surface. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 9(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9010017

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