Balance performance in sedentary and active healthy young individuals – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and Study aim. Balance ability has a fundamental role in many activities of daily living, as well in athletic activities. The Balance Error Scoring System is a valid and reliable test used to evaluate postural balance. The aim of this study was to assess the postural balance in active and sedentary healthy young individuals. 
 Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the balance performance in forty-four healthy young individuals (mean age 21.69±4.87 years), based on their physical activity level. Balance was assessed using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and the total number of errors was scored, for the non-dominant limb (the left leg for both groups). The errors were counted for each of the six situations (double leg stance, single leg stance and tandem stance, on hard and soft surface).
 Results. Group 1 consisted of twenty-two active subjects (mean age 21.18±2.32 years, 59.09% females), with a BESS score of 9.87±1.6. The sedentary group (group 2), with twenty-two young subjects (mean age 22.22±6.61 years, 59.09% females), scored a significantly higher BESS score for the sedentary group (15.48±2.24) (p<0.001). No gender differences were recorded.
 Conclusions. Physically active young people have a better postural balance than do the sedentary ones, as scored with the BESS.