Abstract
Vibratory platforms (VPs) and unstable footwear (UF) have both shown benefits on balance in some populations. However, there is no evidence about the combined effects of using UF while training on an VP in healthy and physically active young people. We aimed to evaluate the effects of wearing unstable footwear (UF) while training on a whole-body VP on balance in healthy, physically active young people. 23 participants were randomized into groups assigned UF (n = 11) or stable footwear (SF; n = 12). Both groups followed the same training program on an VP with the assigned footwear type twice a week for 12 weeks. The training consisted of performing 8 isometric exercises for progressively longer periods and higher oscillation amplitudes (15–60 s, 1–3 mm), at a fixed vibration frequency (20 Hz). The main outcomes were the antero-posterior and medio-lateral velocities of the center of pressure (COP) recorded using a plantar pressure corridor at baseline, post-treatment and 1-month follow-up. We found a statistically significant difference in the antero-posterior velocity during the monopodal test in the UF group between the different time-points (χ2(2) = 13.282, p = 0.001). Mediolateral COP velocity ranking during the bipodal test was lower for UF than for SF group (U = 19.50, z = − 2.86, p = 0.003) at follow-up. The traditional vibratory platform training does not seem to be effective to improve static balance in physically active young people, however, adding UF provided slightly greater effect.
Highlights
Vibratory platforms (VPs) and unstable footwear (UF) have both shown benefits on balance in some populations
We aimed to evaluate the effect of a training of 12 weeks combining vibratory platform with unstable shoes on static balance
We found that the combination of unstable footwear and vibratory platform had poor effects on static balance
Summary
Vibratory platforms (VPs) and unstable footwear (UF) have both shown benefits on balance in some populations. There is no evidence about the combined effects of using UF while training on an VP in healthy and physically active young people. We aimed to evaluate the effects of wearing unstable footwear (UF) while training on a whole-body VP on balance in healthy, physically active young people. The traditional vibratory platform training does not seem to be effective to improve static balance in physically active young people, adding UF provided slightly greater effect. Several authors have found that traditional VP training may not be effective to improve static balance in active young p articipants[6,7], the heterogeneity in WBV parameters, the combination of VP with unstable platforms and the possible synergistic effects are still understudied. Combining different positions on an oscillating VP (in line [X-axis] or perpendicular [Y-axis] to the fulcrum) while wearing UF could generate greater medio-lateral and antero-posterior instability
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