Author(s): HADŽA, R., AUGUSTOVICOVÁ, D., Institution: COMENIUS UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT, Country: SLOVAKIA, Abstract-ID: 1265

INTRODUCTION:
World Karate Federation (WKF) based on the International Paralympic Committee Classification code (IPC) recognizes and offers opportunities to compete in individual sport class (K20) categorised for para-karate athletes with intellectual impairment (II) (K21) and Down Syndrome (II2) (K22). Classification guidelines for intellectually impaired athletes in para-karate are coordinated in cooperation with Virtus [1]. Performances of athletes are evaluated based on the specific criteria including balance. Balance is one of the crucial physical parameters of sport performance in karate kata competitions, during transitions and stances throughout performing kata, for able bodied or the para-karate athletes [2]. Athletes are having to not only stabilize and maintain balance but also to precise and efficiently regulate positioning of the centre of mass [3]. Therefore, for the purpose of further physical part of the classifications it is important to find out, whether the thirty second static balance test is reliable test for intellectually impaired para-karate athletes?
METHODS:
Forty-four top-level para-karate intellectually impaired athletes (K21, n=20, aged 27.2 ± 7.0) and (K22, n=24, aged 27.4 ± 6.2 years) took part in the study. The work is aimed at the assessment of the test-retest reliability of the 30 second static balance test in II athletes. We used parallel stance with opened eyes, hands on the hips and no manipulation during the test. All athletes were instructed to step on the force plates (each leg on one plate), standing still for 30 seconds and maintaining eye contact with the picture on the wall in front of them during the test. The test was carried out twice with 1 minute rest interval between attempts using device Kistler Force plates (9260AA6). The parameters obtained were total path [mm] and velocity [mm.s-1] of centre of pressure (COP). The athletes performed the test as a part of classification session of the WKF World Para-karate championship 2023. To perform statistical analysis of the data, we used correct form of intraclass correlation coefficient [4, 5] and Pearson correlation.
RESULTS:
We demonstrated correlations between test and retest measurements for total path K20: r(42)=.95, p˂0.001 (ICC=0.945), K21: r(18)=.96, p˂0.001 (ICC=0.959) and K22: r(22)=.94, p˂0.001 (ICC=0.923) and total velocity K20: r(42)=.95, p˂0.001 (ICC=0.943), K21: r(18)=.96, p˂0.001 (ICC=0.959) and K22: r(22)=.94, p˂0.001 (ICC=0.923) of the thirty second static balance test suggesting excellent reliability of the obtained data.
CONCLUSION:
Total path and velocity are highly reliable parameters of the thirty-second static balance test. Therefore, from the point of view of reliability, we recommend including this test for the purpose of physical classification in intellectually impaired top-level para-karate athletes.
Funding:
VEGA project of The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (number 1/0611/23).