Assessment of Balance Asymmetry in Elite Polish Greco-Roman Style Wrestlers Using the Y-Balance Test

Introduction. A wrestling bout is characterised by a short, intense, intermittent effort lasting 6 minutes in total for the senior group, making the need to play 4-5 matches in 1 day, during a wrestling tournament, an additional element of this effort. The ability to maintain balance is manifested through dynamic stability, plays a key role in the sport of wrestling, where precise motor control is essential for the effective execution of techniques and the avoidance of injury. Asymmetries resulting from imbalances can affect players' performance and their susceptibility to injury. The aim of the study was to evaluate asymmetry in the dynamic stability of Polish national team wrestlers in three directions of movement (forward, posteromedial, posterolateral) using the Y-Balance test. Research material and methods. Eighteen national team wrestlers in Greco-Roman style wrestling, took part in the study. A threeway Y-Balance test was used for both lower limbs. The results were statistically analysed, assessing the mean, standard deviation and significance of differences between limbs. Study results. There was significant asymmetry in forward movement (p=0.05), with the left lower limb showing better stability. In the other directions, asymmetries were present, but the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). However, 4 players were found to have an asymmetry of more than 4 cm, indicating a risk of injury. Conclusions. Although the dynamic asymmetries indicated in the study occur frequently among wrestling athletes, they are not always statistically significant. The results suggest that the Polish national team wrestlers have well-developed dynamic stability, but the asymmetries revealed in individual cases need to be monitored in order to prevent injuries and optimise training.