Effects of Short-Term Dynamic Balance Training on Postural Stability in School-Aged Football Players and Gymnasts.

Patrick Ragert,Johannes Zimmer,Rouven Kenville,Sophie Körner,Tom Maudrich

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.767036

Patrick Ragert, Johannes Zimmer + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.767036

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Abstract

Static and dynamic balance abilities enable simple and complex movements and are determinants of top athletic performance. Balance abilities and their proficiency differ fundamentally with respect to age, gender, type of balance intervention, and type of sport. With this study, we aim to investigate whether 4weeks of dynamic balance training (DBT) improves static balance performance in school-aged gymnasts and football players. For this purpose, young male gymnasts (n=21) and male football players (n=20) completed an initial static balance assessment consisting of two one-legged stance (left and right foot) and two two-legged stance (eyes open and eyes closed) tasks. Subsequently, all participants underwent a 4-week intervention. DBT consisting of nine individual tasks was performed two times per week. Another static balance assessment followed 1day after the last training session and retention was assessed 2weeks later. Dynamic balance scores and total path length were analyzed via rank-based repeated measures designs using ANOVA-type statistics. The influence of factors GROUP and TIME on the static and dynamic balance performance was examined. Prior to DBT, young gymnasts showed better static balance performance than football players. However, after intervention, both groups improved in both one-legged stance tasks and also had high retention rates in these tasks. No significant improvements were seen in either group in the two-legged balance tests. Both groups improved in the dynamic balance tasks, although no differences in learning rates were evident. Our findings imply an inter-relationship between both static and dynamic balance components. Consequently, training regimes should include both balance components to facilitate early development of balance ability.

Highlights

Successful execution of fundamental movements, as well as sport-specific skills, depends critically on an individual’s ability to maintain or adjust balance (Faigenbaum et al, 2015)
We aim to investigate whether 4 weeks of dynamic balance training (DBT) improves static balance performance in school-aged gymnasts and football players
Regarding possible effects of DBT on static balance, one-legged stance performance was significantly improved in both groups, while two-legged stance showed no differences between PRE and POST

Summary

Introduction

Successful execution of fundamental movements, as well as sport-specific skills, depends critically on an individual’s ability to maintain or adjust balance (Faigenbaum et al, 2015). Static balance is generally defined as the ability to stabilize the center of mass in relation to the base of support (Horak, 1987), whereas dynamic balance relates to stability maintenance during the performance of dynamic movements (DiStefano et al, 2009). Combined evidence of several studies investigating balance abilities in athletes of different sports implies superior balance performance in adult gymnasts compared to football players, swimmers, and basketball players (Hrysomallis, 2011). Such differences are potentially rooted in distinct training regimes, as well as skill requirements that lead to sport-specific sensorimotor adaptations (Bressel et al, 2007). Children as young as 9 years of age have been shown to exhibit adult postural control strategies, suggesting an early manifestation of adult balance behavior (ShumwayCook and Woollacott, 1985)

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