Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to 1) compare task specific and general balance enhancement effects of 2 balance training methods, and 2) examine the effect of training frequency on balance improvement. METHODS: 81 subjects (24+4 yrs, 64 male, 17 female) were divided into 5 groups. Two groups trained for 6 weeks by performing eyes closed, one-legged balance training either 1 (EC1) or 3 d.wk−1 (EC3). Two groups trained by performing eyes open 1-legged balance tasks on an air-filled balance pillow either 1 (EOBP1) or 3 d.wk−1 (EOBP3). Total balance training exposure per session was equated across training modes. A 5th group served as an untrained control. Before and after the 6 wk training period, center-of-pressure (COP) stability was quantified (five 20 s trials each leg, each condition) on a computerized balance platform during a one-legged stance with 1) eyes closed, 2) eyes open, and 3) eyes open while standing on an Airex™ cushion. The mean COP velocity moments for the best 3 trials were compared across conditions. RESULTS: EOBP3 tended to improve balance when specifically tested on an unstable surface (121±56 vs. 108 ± 34 mm2/s, p=0.11). Otherwise, no improvement with EOBP training was observed when tested with eyes closed, or with eyes open on a stable surface. In contrast, EC3 improved significantly under eyes closed (250±92 vs. 178±69 mm2/s, P <0.001), eyes open stable (74 ±20 vs. 59±16mm2/s, P <0.001), and eyes open unstable surface conditions (145±55 vs. 125±42 mm2/s, P=0.011). Among the EC training groups, training 3 days a week tended to induce larger balance improvements then training only 1d.wk−1, but the differences were not statistically significant. The control group did not improve balance from pre- to post-testing. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that training postural balance by removing visual feedback gives a robust training effect that is transferable to both eyes open and unstable surface conditions. In contrast, training on a balance pillow was less effective and appears to transfer poorly to other balance conditions.
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