scholarly journals Sport-Specific Habitual Adaptations in Neck Kinesthetic Functions Are Related to Balance Controlling Mechanisms

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (24) ◽  
pp. 8965
Author(s):  
Ziva Majcen Rosker ◽  
Miha Vodicar
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Torsion Balance ◽  
Body Sway ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Spine Function ◽  
Neck Torsion

Whilst the importance of trunk, lower and upper extremities for the efficiency of maintaining body sway is well documented, the effects of cervical spine function have been seldom investigated. Afferent information from high density proprioceptors located in the cervical spine can alter postural balance, however the effects of sport’s specific habitual adaptation on balance performance have not yet been investigated. Twenty-seven taekwondo fighters and thirty controls performed unilateral balance tasks while facing forward and during neck torsion balance test while standing on the force plate. Neck kinesthesia was measured with the Head-to-Neutral Relocation test and the Butterfly test with motion-inertial unit. Differences between balance tasks were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Additionally, correlations between body sway parameters and neck kinesthesia were studied using Pearson correlation coefficient. No differences were found between forward facing and neck torsion balance tasks in taekwondo fighters. However, correlations were found between balance on the non-preferred leg and neck kinesthesia. On the contrary, healthy individuals presented with statistically significant differences between both balance tasks and correlations between balance and neck kinesthesia. Taekwondo fighters seem to present with habitual adaptations in balance control, that differ from non-trained individuals.

Single-Leg Balance Performance in Sub-Elite Young Soccer Players and Swimmers as a Function of Age and Sports Experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Leinen ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer ◽  
Stefan Panzer
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Functional Specialization ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Anterior Posterior

The present study investigated if accumulated, advanced, regular soccer practice (balance-demanding exercise) compared to regular swim practice (non-balance–demanding exercise) induces a more pronounced functional specialization in postural control. Therefore, single-leg balance performance in sub-elite young soccer players (under 13 [U13]: n = 16; U15: n = 18; U19: n = 15), and sub-elite young swimmers (U13: n = 7; U15: n = 4; U19: n = 5) was tested in different balance task conditions (i.e., static and dynamic balance on firm and foam surface). All athletes practiced 3–10 times per week. Single-leg balance of the dominant and non-dominant leg was measured using a force plate. The standard deviation of the center of pressure displacements in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions were used as dependent variables. Irrespective of age groups and type of sport, the results failed to indicate significant leg differences in single-leg balance performance. The soccer players showed significant better single-leg balance performance in anterior-posterior direction in the dynamic balance test on the firm and foam surface compared to the swimmers. Functional specialization was accompanied by the type of sport but not by accumulated practice.

Regulation of Balance After Spinning: A Comparison Between Figure Skaters and Controls

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cadence M Baker ◽  
Gordon E Barkwell
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Figure Skaters ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Balance Ability ◽  
Base Of Support ◽  
And Control ◽  
Female Control

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to compare the balance performance of control subjects and varsity figure skaters after spinning on a turntable for 6 seconds. It was hypothesized figure skaters would demonstrate better balance control after spinning. Methods: 9 female figure skaters and 9 female control subjects stood as still as possible for 15 seconds on a Kistler force plate during both a control condition and after spinning for 6 seconds on a turntable. Balance performance was quantified by the percentage of total time the center of pressure (CoP) was within a 5mm radius of the center of their base of support (BoS). Results: In the control condition, figure skaters and control participants did not have significantly different balance ability. In the post-spin condition, figure skaters were significantly better at maintaining their CoP within a smaller area. Conclusions: These results are valuable from a training and coaching perspective because they suggest that balance performance after spinning can be improved with training.

scholarly journals Dynamic balance performance of professional turkish soccer players by playing position

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 223-228
Author(s):  
B.A. Ateş
Keyword(s):  
Balance Control ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Anthropometric Characteristics ◽  
Player Positions

Background and Study Aim: Balance control has been regarded as a crucial factor in sports and indicated as an important element to be examined for the risks of injury. But it is unknown whether the dynamic balance changes according to the player positions in professional soccer players. To determine whether there were differences in the dynamic balance performance of the different positions of Turkish professional soccer players from within one squad. Material and Methods: Twenty-four professional soccer players were divided into 4 groups by the coach, including goalkeepers (n = 3), midfielders (n = 6), defenders (n = 7) and forwards (n = 8). Prior the competition season, anthropometric characteristics of players were measured. Then, players were tested Y Balance Test (YBT) for the anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) reach distances and limb lengths bilaterally. Results: The goalkeepers were heavier compared with the midfielders. Furthermore, the BMI of the goalkeepers were higher than midfielders and defenders (p< 0.05). There were no significant differences in the ANT, PM, PL, and COMP score between the groups (p> 0.05). The values for reach asymmetry were lower than four centimeters among groups in the all reach direction with regards to reach asymmetries, except normalized posterolateral direction. Conclusions: The results of this study have shown that the YBT performance scores do not differ between the groups. Future studies are required to create specific norms related to dynamic balance performance and establish risk cut-off score for professional soccer players.

scholarly journals Adaptation to Coriolis force perturbations of postural sway requires an asymmetric two-leg model

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 2042-2060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avijit Bakshi ◽  
Paul DiZio ◽  
James R. Lackner
Keyword(s):  
Coriolis Force ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Body Sway ◽  
Coriolis Forces ◽  
Movement Trajectories ◽  
Parameterized Model

In the companion paper (Bakshi A, DiZio P, Lackner JR. J Neurophysiol. In press, 2019), we reported how voluntary forward-backward sway in a rotating room generated medial-lateral Coriolis forces that initially deviated intended body sway paths. Pure fore-aft sway was gradually restored over per-rotation trials, and a negative aftereffect occurred during postrotation sway. Force plate recordings showed that subjects learned to compensate for the Coriolis forces by executing a bimodal torque, the distribution of which was asymmetric across the two legs and of opposite sign for forward vs. backward sway. To explain these results, we have developed an asymmetric, nonparallel-leg, inverted pendulum model to characterize upright balance control in two dimensions. Fore-aft and medial-lateral sway amplitudes can be biomechanically coupled or independent. Biomechanical coupling occurs when Coriolis forces orthogonal to the direction of movement perturb sway about the ankles. The model includes a mechanism for alternating engagement/disengagement of each leg and for asymmetric drive to the ankles to achieve adaptation to Coriolis force-induced two-dimensional sway. The model predicts the adaptive control underlying the adaptation of voluntary postural sway to Coriolis forces. A stability analysis of the model generates parameter values that match those measured experimentally, and the parameterized model simulations reproduce the experimentally observed sway trajectories. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This paper presents a novel nonparallel leg model of postural control that correctly predicts the perturbations of voluntary sway that occur in a rotating environment and the adaptive changes that occur to restore faithful movement trajectories. This engaged leg model (ELM) predicts the asymmetries in force distribution and their patterns between the two legs to restore accurate movement trajectories. ELM has clinical relevance for pathologies that generate postural asymmetries and for altered gravitoinertial force conditions.

scholarly journals Balance control of the orthostatic body pose in physical education of students

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70
Author(s):  
Ihor Zanevskyy ◽  
Stanislaw Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Test Reliability ◽  
Centre Of Pressure ◽  
Horizontal Projection ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Intra Class Correlation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Education Of Students

Background and Study Aim. Maintaining upright body posture is fundamental for humans. The aim of the research is to determine influence of the feet situation on the balance of the orthostatic body pose in physical education. Material and Methods. Ten 19–21 years old university students were involved into the research. The test consisted of five measurements − each of them in another feet situation with ten minutes relax before every measurement. Measurements were done using two twin platforms kinesis-meter CQStab2P. A length of the horizontal projection of centre of pressure during 30 seconds was measured as a test result. Results. Because near normal distribution (SW-W = 0.893−0.963, p = 0.183−0.806), parametric statistics were used to elaborate results on the balance test reliability: two ways ANOVA, intra-class correlation, t-Student, and Pearson correlation. Groups variations of results in all the five feet situations were derived about the border between moderate and great: V = 20.0 − 23.5%. Test-retest results correlate between groups repeated measurement on moderate − high levels (r = 0.593 − 0.954). Conclusions. In the balance control of the orthostatic body pose in the physical education of students a feet situation should be taken into consideration, because a significant difference between lengths of the centre of pressure during the control on the balance platform relatively a body pose (p < .046). Balance testing on the platform could be conducted on the appropriable, good, and excellent levels of reliability using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.791 – 0.975).

Dynamic and Static Assessment of Single-Leg Postural Control in Female Soccer Players

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-178
Author(s):  
Kelly M. Meiners ◽  
Janice K. Loudon
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Left Lower Extremity ◽  
Static Assessment ◽  
Dynamic Postural Stability

Purpose/Background: Various methods are available for assessment of static and dynamic postural stability. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dynamic postural stability as measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and static postural sway assessment as measured by the TechnoBody™ Pro-Kin in female soccer players. A secondary purpose was to determine side-to-side symmetry in this cohort. Methods: A total of 18 female soccer players completed testing on the SEBT and Technobody™ Pro-Kin balance device. Outcome measures were anterior, posterior medial, and posterior lateral reaches from the SEBT and center of pressure in the x- and y-axes as well as SD of movement in the forward/backward and medial/lateral directions from the force plate on left and right legs. Bivariate correlations were determined between the 8 measures. In addition, paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed to determine similarity between limb scores. Results: All measures on both the SEBT and postural sway assessment were significantly correlated when comparing dominant with nondominant lower-extremities with the exception of SD of movement in both x- and y-axes. When correlating results of the SEBT with postural sway assessment, a significant correlation was found between the SEBT right lower-extremity posterior lateral reach (r = .567, P < .05) and summed SEBT (r = .486, P < .05) and the center of pressure in the y-axis. A significant correlation was also found on the left lower-extremity, with SD of forward/backward movement and SEBT posterior medial reach (r = −.511, P < .05). Conclusions: Dynamic postural tests and static postural tests provide different information to the overall assessment of balance in female soccer players. Relationship between variables differed based on the subject’s lower-extremity dominance.

scholarly journals Effect of Eye-Object Distance on Body Sway during Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Aoki ◽  
Yoshitaka Otani ◽  
Shinichiro Morishita
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Distance Effect ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Body Sway ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Visual Condition ◽  
Object Distance

Gazing at objects at a near distance (small eye-object distance) can reduce body sway. However, whether body sway is regulated by movement in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction remains unclear. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can induce body tilting in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction. This study examined the directionality of the eye-object distance effect, using body-tilting GVS manipulations. Ten healthy subjects (aged 21.1 ± 0.3 years) stood on a force plate covered with a piece of foamed rubber and either closed their eyes or gazed at a marker located 0.5 m, 1.0 m, or 1.5 m in front of them. The GVS polarities were set to evoke rightward, forward, and backward body tilts. To compare the effects of eye-object distance in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions, the root mean square (RMS) of the center of pressure (COP) without GVS was subtracted from the COP RMS during GVS. For swaying in the mediolateral direction, significant visual condition-related differences were found during rightward and forward GVS (p < 0.05). Thus, reductions in mediolateral body sway are more evident for smaller eye-object distances during rightward GVS. It would be appropriate to use body-tilting GVS to detect the directionality of the eye-object distance effect.

Prediction of Rotating Machinery Vibration Using Balance Simulation With Measurement Uncertainty

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob P. Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Rotating Machinery ◽  
Lms Algorithm ◽  
Least Mean Square ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Influence Coefficients ◽  
Test Process

Abstract Vibration predictions for rotating machinery with high-speed flexible rotors must account for the methods and limitations of the balance test process which determine the residual rotor unbalance. Vibration predictions based on finite element analysis (FEA) methods are highly dependent upon the assumed rotor unbalance amplitude and phase. The actual residual unbalance distribution depends upon the measured influence coefficients and the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm used to calculate balance correction weights. Repeatability of the vibration measurements is a key factor in successful balancing. The vibration predictions described in this paper use estimates of final residual unbalance obtained by simulating the balance test process. The simulation uses FEA based influence coefficients, a test based measurement uncertainty (repeatability) model, and LMS balance weight calculations including the specified vibration target levels. The simulations can be used to predict the limit of balance performance of the machinery and to evaluate design options for impact on residual unbalance levels.

Responsiveness and Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Brief-BESTest in People with COPD after Pulmonary Rehabilitation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia Paixão ◽  
Patrícia Rebelo ◽  
Ana Oliveira ◽  
Cristina Jácome ◽  
Joana Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Rehabilitation ◽  
Minimal Clinically Important Difference ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Clinically Important Difference ◽  
6 Minute Walk Test

Abstract Objective The Brief-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Brief-BESTest) is a comprehensive, reliable, and valid balance test that provides valuable information to guide balance training in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its clinical interpretability is, however, currently limited, as cutoff points to identify clinically relevant changes in people with COPD after pulmonary rehabilitation are still lacking. This study aimed to establish the responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the Brief-BESTest in people with COPD after pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Methods A secondary analysis of data from 2 previous studies was conducted. The modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, the 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT), and the Brief-BESTest (0–24 points) were collected in people with COPD pre/post a 12-week PR program including balance training. The MCID was computed using anchor- and distribution-based methods. Changes in the 6-MWT and the mMRC were assessed and used as anchors. The pooled MCID was computed using the arithmetic weighted mean (2/3 anchor- and 1/3 distribution-based methods). Results Seventy-one people with COPD [69 years (SD = 8); 76% male; FEV1 = 49.8%predicted (SD = 18%)] were included. There was a significant improvement in the Brief-BESTest after PR [mean difference = 3 points (SD = 3)]. Significant correlations were found between the Brief-BESTest and the mMRC (r = −.31) and the 6-MWT (r = .37). The pooled MCID was 3.3 points. Conclusion An improvement of at least 3 points in the Brief-BESTest in people with COPD will enhance the interpretability of PR effects on balance performance of this population and guide tailored interventions. Impact The Brief-BESTest outcome measure is comprehensive, easily administered, and simple to interpret in clinical practice. This study represents a significant contribution toward the clinical interpretation of changes in balance in people with COPD following PR.

scholarly journals Effects of balance training on balance performance in youth: role of training difficulty

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Schedler ◽  
Florian Tenelsen ◽  
Laura Wich ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Dynamic ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Functional Reach Test

Abstract Background Cross-sectional studies have shown that balance performance can be challenged by the level of task difficulty (e.g., varying stance conditions, sensory manipulations). However, it remains unclear whether the application of different levels of task difficulty during balance training (BT) leads to altered adaptations in balance performance. Thus, we examined the effects of BT conducted under a high versus a low level of task difficulty on balance performance. Methods Forty male adolescents were randomly assigned to a BT program using a low (BT-low: n = 20; age: 12.4 ± 2.0 yrs) or a high (BT-high: n = 20; age: 12.5 ± 2.5 yrs) level of balance task difficulty. Both groups trained for 7 weeks (2 sessions/week, 30–35 min each). Pre- and post-training assessments included measures of static (one-legged stance [OLS] time), dynamic (10-m gait velocity), and proactive (Y-Balance Test [YBT] reach distance, Functional Reach Test [FRT]; Timed-Up-and-Go Test [TUG]) balance. Results Significant main effects of Test (i.e., pre- to post-test improvements) were observed for all but one balance measure (i.e., 10-m gait velocity). Additionally, a Test x Group interaction was detected for the FRT in favor of the BT-high group (Δ + 8%, p < 0.001, d = 0.35). Further, tendencies toward significant Test x Group interactions were found for the YBT anterior reach (in favor of BT-high: Δ + 9%, p < 0.001, d = 0.60) and for the OLS with eyes opened and on firm surface (in favor of BT-low: Δ + 31%, p = 0.003, d = 0.67). Conclusions Following 7 weeks of BT, enhancements in measures of static, dynamic, and proactive balance were observed in the BT-high and BT-low groups. However, BT-high appears to be more effective for increasing measures of proactive balance, whereas BT-low seems to be more effective for improving proxies of static balance. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN83638708 (Retrospectively registered 19th June, 2020).

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