Poor Balance Ability Research Articles

The relationship between kinesiophobia, balance, and upper extremity functions in patients with painful shoulder pathology.

Poor balance ability may contribute to shoulder pathology in patients with existing shoulder pathologies or vice versa. The relationship between kinesiophobia and chronic shoulder pain intensity has been researched, although the conclusions are conflicting. To our knowledge, no study in the literature explores the association between kinesiophobia and balance in patients with shoulder pain. To investigate the relationship between kinesiophobia, upper extremity functions, and balance abilities in patients with shoulder pain. Cross-sectional observational study. Physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital. Not applicable. A total of 44 patients with shoulder pain were included in the study. The pain severity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) were used to assess the patients. Ultrasound was used to diagnose underlying shoulder joint problems. Static and dynamic postural control was evaluated. The most common pathologies detected by ultrasound were supraspinatus tendinitis/rupture (77.3%), cortical irregularity (68.2%), and bursitis (63.6%). TSK score did not correlate with age, body mass index, symptom duration, or VAS score in rest (all p > .05), but it was associated with scores on the BBS (r = -0.437, p = .003), SPADI-pain (r = 0.474, p = .001), SPADI-disability (r = 0.355, p = .018), SPADI-total (r = 0.405, p = .006), and VAS in activity (r = 0.331, p = .028). According to multiple linear regression analysis, BBS score, SPADI-total score, and anterior-posterior sway length were significant predictors of TSK (r = 0.645, r2 = 0.416). According to the findings of this study, the main risk factors for high levels of kinesiophobia are poor balance, severe pain, and disability. In addition to mechanical causes of shoulder pain, diagnosing and intervening on underlying balance issues and psychosocial causes of shoulder pain will improve treatment success.

Relationship between fear of falling and fall risk among older patients with stroke: a structural equation modeling

BackgroundWith reduced balance and mobility, older patients with stroke are more susceptible to fear of falling (FOF). A maladaptive form of FOF can cause excessive activity restriction, poor balance, and recurrent falls, forming a self-reinforcing vicious cycle. This study applied and adapted the FOF model to investigate the interaction between FOF and fall risk in older stroke patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 older stroke patients aged 60 and over. All participants were invited to complete the FOF, fall risk, physical activity, and balance tests, which were measured by the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), Self-Rated Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ), the long-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-LF) and the Four-Stage Balance Test (FSBT) respectively. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 68.62 ± 7.62 years; 8.94% reported a high level of FOF, and 18.21% reported a moderate level of FOF. The structural equation model showed that FOF was directly associated with fall risk (β=-0.38, p < 0.001), and was indirectly associated with fall risk via physical activity (β=-0.075, p < 0.05) and balance ability (β=-0.123, p < 0.05). Depression (β=-0.47, p < 0.001), fall history (β=-0.13, p < 0.05), and female sex (β=-0.16, p < 0.05) affected FOF, while anxiety was not associated with FOF.ConclusionsThe increased risk of falling in older stroke patients results from a maladaptive FOF affected by depression, fall history, poor balance ability, and limited physical activity. Our results suggest that greater attention should be paid to FOF during stroke recovery and fall prevention. A multifaced intervention program encompassing physiological and psychological factors should be designed to address FOF and prevent falls.

Design and dynamic analysis of jumping wheel-legged robot in complex terrain environment.

Wheel-legged robots have fast and stable motion characteristics on flat roads, but there are the problems of poor balance ability and low movement level in special terrains such as rough roads. In this paper, a new type of wheel-legged robot with parallel four-bar mechanism is proposed, and the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller and fuzzy proportion differentiation (PD) jumping controller are designed and developed to achieve stable motion so that the robot has the ability to jump over obstacles and adapt to rough terrain. The amount of energy released by the parallel four-bar linkage mechanism changes with the change of the link angle, and the height of the jump trajectory changes accordingly, which improves the robot's ability to overcome obstacles facing vertical obstacles. Simulations and real scene tests are performed in different terrain environments to verify obstacle crossing capabilities. The simulation results show that, in the pothole terrain, the maximum height error of the two hip joint motors is 2 mm for the obstacle surmounting method of the adaptive retractable wheel-legs; in the process of single leg obstacle surmounting, the maximum height error of the hip joint motors is only 6.6 mm. The comparison of simulation data and real scene experimental results shows that the robot has better robustness in moving under complex terrains.

One-Legged Balance Performance and Fall Risk in Mid and Later Life: Longitudinal Evidence From a British Birth Cohort

The one-legged balance test is widely used as a fall risk screening tool in both clinical and research settings. Despite rising fall prevalence in midlife, there is little evidence examining balance and fall risk in those aged <65 years. This study investigated the longitudinal associations between one-legged balance and the number of falls between ages 53 and 68 years. The study included 2,046 individuals from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health & Development, a British birth cohort study. One-legged balance times (eyes open, maximum: 30 seconds) were assessed at ages 53 years (1999) and 60-64 years (2006-2010). Fall history within the last year (none, 1, ≥2) was self-reported at ages 60-64 years and 68 years (2014). Multinomial logistic regressions assessed the associations between balance and change in balance with subsequent falls. Models adjusted for anthropometric, socioeconomic, behavioral, health status, and cognitive indicators. Analysis occurred between 2019 and 2022. Balance performance was not associated with single falls. Better balance performance at age 53 years was associated with decreased risk of recurrent falls at ages 60-64 years and 68 years, with similar associations between balance at age 60-64 years and recurrent falls at age 68 years. Those with consistently lower balance times (<15 seconds) were at greater risk (RRR=3.33, 95% CI=1.91, 5.80) of recurrent falls at age 68 years in adjusted models than those who could balance for 30 seconds at ages 53 years and 60-64 years. Lower balance and consistently low or declining performance were associated with a greater subsequent risk of recurrent falls. Earlier identification and intervention of those with poor balance ability can help to minimize the risk of recurrent falls in aging adults.

Balance and Vestibular Deficits in Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Underappreciated Clinical Aspect.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) not only have communication and social difficulties, but also exhibit poor balance and motor control ability, which frequently affect daily activities. Effective balance and motor control rely on the integration of somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs. Although reports of balance dysfunction in ASD have been documented, comprehensive studies of balance and vestibular function in children with ASD are scarce. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 36 pediatric patients diagnosed with ASD who underwent balance/vestibular laboratory testing in our speciality clinic. Results from sensory organization test (SOT) or modified clinical test for sensory integration of balance (mCTSIB) found that out of 15 patients, 80% had abnormal findings. Of the children who successfully completed each vestibular test, abnormal responses were observed in 12 (80%) sensory organization tests, 5 (24%) vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP), 22 (66%) videonystagmography (VNG), and 11 (32%) sinusoidal rotary chair tests. These results indicate that balance and vestibular testing may be of diagnostic value for clinicians and providers as an aid in early detection, intervention, and the development of appropriate management and therapies for this patient population. Increased awareness of this topic is warranted to promote better clinical management of this special group of patients and improve their quality of life.

The Balance Reaction Ability of Teenagers Based on the Evaluation Model of Unbalanced Sports Quotient.

Dynamic balance is particularly important for the maintenance, transformation, and restabilization of various postures of the human body. Combined with the characteristics of unbalanced sports events, although there is no physical contact in sports events, it has intense antagonism due to the constant change of body movement. Athletes need to have the ability of fast movement and continuous high-intensity multibeat confrontation. They need to adjust their body posture any time according to the situation, constantly move their body from one side to the other side in fast movement, and constantly change between being imbalanced and being stable to keep the center of gravity stable and adjust their body posture. Combining with the characteristics of unbalanced sports, this paper is aimed at the problem that young athletes have poor dynamic balance ability and cannot maintain the stability of their body's center of gravity in the process of fast multidirectional movement and braking. The supporting leg needs ankle dorsiflexion, knee flexion, and hip flexion during SEBT testing. Therefore, the lower limb needs sufficient range of motion, strength, proprioception, and neuromuscular control ability to achieve the optimal test results. A randomized controlled experiment was used to test whether there were significant differences in the test indicators between the experimental group and the control group before and after the experiment by using a paired test. The test indicators between the experimental group and the control group before and after the intervention were tested by independent sample test to explore the influence of core balance training on the dynamic balance ability of teenagers in unbalanced sports. Through analysis, it is proved that strengthening balance exercise can significantly improve the functional movements and physical fitness of adolescents, which is of great significance to the development of basic flexibility and stability of joints and the strengthening of weak chain muscles.

Hip Flexibility and Dynamic Balance Ability in Soccer Players with Functional Ankle Instability

The prevention of recurrent ankle sprain and functional ankle instability in soccer players is essential. This study clarified hip joint mobility and dynamic balance ability in soccer players with functional ankle instability. This case–control study included 17 male college soccer players. All participants were assessed using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool and were divided into chronic ankle instability (CAI) and non-CAI groups for each of their dominant and nondominant legs. Bilateral passive hip range of motion (ROM) was assessed and the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) was measured for each leg. In the dominant leg, the reach in the posterolateral direction in the CAI group was significantly less than that in the non-CAI group. Hip internal rotation angles in the dominant leg in the CAI group were greater than those in the non-CAI group; however, no significant correlations with the three directions of mSEBT were observed. In the nondominant leg, mSEBT and hip ROMs did not show any significant differences between groups. The dominant leg in soccer players with CAI had poor dynamic balance ability while reaching posterolaterally. However, acquiring hip flexibility may not be necessary to improve the dynamic balance ability. These findings may help develop future research.

Acute Improvement of Postural Steadiness Through Neuromuscular and Proprioceptive Training in Sedentary Older Females

Background: Poor balance ability will increase falling incidence. This study evaluated an acute improvement of postural steadiness through a neuromuscular and proprioceptive training (NPT) program in sedentary older females. Methods: Forty-eight sedentary females over the age of 65, who came to the Ukrainian center for sports medicine (Kiev) in the winter of 2018, volunteered for participation in this quasi-experimental study. Participants, who were derived from a convenience sample, were assigned at random to the NPT exercise group (n = 24; age = 70.1 ± 4.6; BMI = 22.34 kg/m2) and the seated rest group (n = 24; age = 69.3 ± 6.8; BMI = 22.47 kg/m2). The NPT exercise group held a modified NPT session for one hour and then finished it by cooling down for 5 minutes, while the seated rest group at the same time, stayed in a sitting position. The center of pressure (COP) in the static state in barefoot conditions was recorded with different visual conditions before and after the study from both groups in the two planes using a force platform. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to compare groups in addition to differences over time. Results: Significant interaction influences were found in the total mean velocity of COP swings (P = 0.004) and the mean velocity of COP swings in the mediolateral plane (P = 0.003) in the NTP exercise group when eyes were closed. Conclusions: A modified NPT program session improves the ability to balance age changes. This program has an acute positive effect on COP velocity swings in sedentary elderly females.

Contribution of vision and its age-related changes to postural stability in obstacle crossing during locomotion

BackgroundObstacle crossing requires sufficient toe clearance for trip and fall prevention for which postural stability is a prerequisite. It is thought that the upper visual field plays an important role in the maintenance of postural stability, but its influence and age-dependence have not been investigated yet. Research questionWhat is the role of the visual fields in maintaining postural stability during crossing an obstacle in young and older adults?. MethodsThis study included 14 young adults and 14 older adults. The participants, wearing an accelerometer and liquid crystal shutter goggles, were asked to cross an obstacle under the following three conditions (i) full vision; (ii) total visual field occlusion at two steps before the obstacle, and (iii) lower visual field occlusion at two steps before the obstacle. The root mean square ratio in the mediolateral direction (RMSRML) for the three sections (i.e., approach to the obstacle, lead limb crossing, and trail limb crossing), as well as the root mean square in the mediolateral direction (RMSML) for each section were calculated. ResultsRMSML during lead limb crossing was significantly increased in older adults compared to young adults (p < 0.01). There was no significant main effect of visual condition and age group on RMSRML for the three steps. SignificanceThe study results suggest postural lateral instability in older adults with poor balance ability during lead limb crossing. Regardless of age, the peripheral visual information appears to contribute minimally to the maintenance of postural lateral stability at least from two steps before the obstacle, when the participants perceived the surrounding environment and the size of the obstacle while approaching it.

Using a Real-Time Locating System to Measure Walking Activity Associated with Wandering Behaviors Among Institutionalized Older Adults.

A real-time locating system (RTLS) can be used to track the walking activity of institutionalized older adults in long-term care who are at risk for wandering behaviors. The benefits of a RTLS are objective and continuous measurements of activity. Self-report methods of activity, especially wandering, by health care staff are vulnerable to floor effects and recall bias, and continuous clinical or research observation over the long-term can be time-consuming and expensive. Health care staff also fail to recognize the onset and/or duration of wandering behaviors, which are associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes in this population but amenable to intervention. RTLS technologies can measure the walking activity of institutionalized residents with cognitive impairment over time with a high degree of accuracy. This is particularly useful for the study of wandering, defined as walking for at least 60 seconds with few (if any) breaks in activity. Wandering is associated with disease progression, hospitalizations, falls and death. Previous work suggests older adults with poor balance ability and high sustained walking activity may be particularly susceptible to poor health outcomes. RTLS's are used to assess cognitive impairment and factors associated with gait and balance; however, supplemental paper and pencil gait/balance tools may be used to further refine risk profiles. This project discusses the use of a RTLS to measure walking activity and also gait quality and balance ability measures on this population.

The effects of pain on quadriceps strength, joint proprioception and dynamic balance among women aged 65 to 75\xa0years with knee osteoarthritis

BackgroundPatients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were reported to have quadriceps weakness, and impaired proprioception, both related to pain and swelling. It is unclear whether pain alone a causal factor to above findings over the knee joint. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of knee pain alone on the quadriceps strength, proprioception and dynamic balance in subjects with bilateral knee OA without joint swelling.MethodsFourty females with mean age of 68.3 years were involved in this cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were bilateral knee OA without joint swelling, with a visual analogue pain scale difference (> 1) between each knee. Patients all underwent assessment of the isokinetic strength of knee muscles, knee proprioceptive acuity, and dynamic balance.ResultsPatients’ more painful knee had weaker isokinetic quadriceps strength than less painful knee at both 60 °/s and 180 °/s (p = 0.01, p = 0.01, respectively). There were no differences in proprioceptive acuity between both knees in all three knee positions. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference in the dynamic balance index measurement between both knees (more painful versus less painful: 3.88 ± 1.15 vs. 3.30 ± 1.00, p = 0.01). Quadriceps strength was associated with dynamic balance stability (60 °/s, r = − 0.578, p < 0.01; 180 °/s, r = − 0.439, p < 0.01).ConclusionsFor patients with knee OA, the more painful knee was associated with weaker quadriceps and poor balance ability. To improve lower limb function and balance stability of the older persons having knee OA, physicians should take the optimal pain management strategy.

Factors associated with poor balance ability in older adults of nine high-altitude communities

IntroductionPoor balance ability in older adults result in multiple complications. Poor balance ability has not been studied among older adults living at high altitudes. In this study, we analysed factors associated with poor balance ability by using the Functional Reach (FR) among older adults living in nine high-altitude communities. Material and methodsAnalytical cross-sectional study, carried out in inhabitants aged 60 or over from nine high-altitude Andean communities of Peru during 2013–2016. FR was divided according to the cut-off point of 8 inches (20.32 cm) and two groups were generated: poor balance ability (FR less or equal than 20.32 cm) and good balance ability (greater than 20.32 cm). Additionally, we collected socio-demographic, medical, functional and cognitive assessment information. Poisson regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with poor balance ability. Prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95CI%) are presented. ResultsA total of 365 older adults were studied. The average age was 73.0 ± 6.9 years (range: 60–91 years), and 180 (49.3%) participants had poor balance ability. In the adjusted Poisson regression analysis, the factors associated with poor balance ability were: alcohol consumption (PR = 1.35; 95%CI: 1.05–1.73), exhaustion (PR = 2.22; 95%CI: 1.49–3.31), gait speed (PR = 0.67; 95%CI: 0.50–0.90), having had at least one fall in the last year (PR = 2.03; 95%CI: 1.19–3.46), having at least one comorbidity (PR = 1.60; 95%CI: 1.10–2.35) and having two or more comorbidities (PR = 1.61; 95%CI: 1.07–2.42) compared to none. ConclusionsApproximately a half of the older adults from these high-altitude communities had poor balance ability. Interventions need to be designed to target these balance issues and prevent adverse events from concurring to these individuals.

Predictive analyses for balance and gait based on trunk performance using clinical scales in persons with stroke

Objective: This study aimed to predict balance and gait abilities with the Trunk Impairment scales (TIS) in persons with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixty-eight participants with stoke were assessed with the TIS, Berg Balance scale (BBS), and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) by a therapist. To describe of general characteristics, we used descriptive and frequency analyses, and the TIS was used as a predictive variable to determine the BBS. In the simple regression analysis, the TIS was used as a predictive variable for the BBS and FGA, and the TIS and BBS were used as predictive variables to determine the FGA in multiple regression analysis. Results: In the group with a BBS score of >45 for regression equation for predicting BBS score using TIS score, the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.234, and the R2 was 0.500 in the group with a BBS score of ≤45. In the group with an FGA score >15 for regression equation for predicting FGA score using TIS score, the R2 was 0.193, and regression equation for predicting FGA score using TIS score, the R2 was 0.181 in the group of FGA score ≤15. In the group of FGA score >15 for regression equation for predicting FGA score using TIS and BBS score, the R2 was 0.327. In the group of FGA score ≤15 for regression equation for predicting FGA score using TIS and BBS score, the R2 was 0.316. Conclusions: The TIS scores are insufficient in predicting the FGA and BBS scores in those with higher balance ability, and the BBS and TIS could be used for predicting variables for FGA. However, TIS is a strong predictive variable for persons with stroke who have poor balance ability.

Effect of in-season neuromuscular and proprioceptive training on postural stability in male youth basketball players

Background: Poor balance ability is a predictor of injuries of the lower extremity. Multi-intervention proprioception preventive programs, comprising balance training, strength, plyometric, agility, running, and stretching exercises, are effective in improving balance ability and reducing the risk of lower extremity injuries in athletes.Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a 20-week in-season multi-intervention proprioceptive neuromuscular training program on postural stability in male youth basketball players.Methods: Twenty-one elite male youth basketball players were divided into an intervention group (n = 10, age 17.3 ± 1.3 years) and a control group (n = 11, age 16.5 ± 1.8 years). During the in-season period (20 weeks), the intervention group followed a proprioceptive and neuromuscular training program, three times per week and 20 minutes per session. Balance was tested in a quiet unipedal stance (on both the dominant and non-dominant leg) on a foam mat with eyes open, before and after a 20-week period in both groups. The mean velocities in the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions and the mean total velocity of the centre of pressure (COP) displacement were obtained with a force platform.Results: The combined effect (pre-post test × group) showed that intervention resulted in significant improvement in the mean COP velocity for both the dominant and non-dominant limb in the anterior-posterior direction (p = .013 and p < .001, respectively) and in the medial-lateral direction (p = .007 and p < .001, respectively) as well as in the total COP velocity (p = .009 and p < .001, respectively). Conclusions: The specific proprioceptive and neuromuscular training had a positive effect on postural stability for both the dominant and non-dominant limb in basketball players.

Design and Implementation of Multi-Agent Online Auction Systems in Cloud Computing

Due to the high maintenance cost of traditional online auction system, poor load balance ability and down problems occurring in the peak value of system access, this paper aims to propose a solutio...

Design and Implementation of Multi-Agent Online Auction Systems in Cloud Computing

Due to the high maintenance cost of traditional online auction system, poor load balance ability and down problems occurring in the peak value of system access, this paper aims to propose a solution to transit from traditional online auction system to cloud computing to get higher work efficiency, lower expenditure and less energy cost. The GAE platform is used to deploy application of the overall framework of online auction system in cloud computing, including development environment as well as online auction system components, and software architecture. The online auction negotiation algorithms in cloud computing are also proposed. Based on these key technologies, the business processes of the online auction system in cloud computing is designed, including users' login system, starting an auction, bidding processes, online auction data storage, and logout system. The online auction system constructed on GAE platform with cloud computing resources and storage ability can reduce the pressure of terminal equipment, which is more robust than traditional online auction system facing users' changeable needs in the process of online auction.

Maintaining gait stability during dual walking task: effects of age and neurological disorders

Dual task paradigm is a common mechanism of daily life, and it is often used for investigating the effect on cognitive processing of motor behavior. In the present study we investigate the dual task interference during walking on upright gait stability. Cross-sectional study. Inpatient neurorehabilitation unit and children neurorehabilitation unit. Eighty-five subjects were enrolled, divided into five groups: healthy young, healthy elderly, children with typical development, children with cerebral palsy and adults with stroke in subacute phase. All subjects had to walk through a pathway during which they had to hear a sound, turn the head to watch a number and verbalize it. Subjects wore an accelerometer on their lumbar spine to measure upright gait stability have been assessed by means of the Root Mean Square (RMS) of the trunk acceleration. All subjects showed a reduced speed when performing a dual task with respect to single task. This reduction was significantly different among groups (F(4,81)=12.253, P<0.001, effect size 0.377). The RMS appeared to be increased along the latero-lateral axis, and reduced along the anterio-posterior and the cranio-caudal axes during the dual task walking. These accelerations were significantly related to the changes in speed that were managed in a different way in subjects affected by cerebral palsy and stroke. The information obtained in this study may be used to support specific rehabilitation techniques in subjects with poor balance ability.

INFLUENCE OF TRADITIONAL DANCE TRAINING PROGRAMS ON DYNAMIC BALANCE OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY: A SHORT REVIEW

Traditional dance is gaining popularity as an intervention choice for improving poor balance ability of people with intellectual disability (ID). Balance improvement for individuals with ID through dance provides opportunities for participation in sport activities and promotes independent living. This short review provides in brief research evidence of dynamic balance improvement as measured by means of a balance deck in duration of 30, 45, and 60 sec intervals, highlighting the need to incorporate traditional dance programs in Physical Education (PE) lessons applied on participants with ID. Overall, traditional dances provide emotional and cognitive interaction that has a direct positive effect on quality of life and successful motor performance of individuals with ID.

Effects of Customized Balance Exercises on Older Women Whose Balance Ability Has Deteriorated With Age

Falls represent a major public health problem for older adults, and loss of balance (LOS) abilities is one of the primary causes of falls. Previous studies have shown that balance training is effective in improving physical function and decreasing risk of falls. However, little attention has been given specifically to balance training in older adults with very poor balance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 12-week customized balance exercise program on LOS for community-dwelling older women with poor balance ability. Twenty-four older women with poor balance (composite maximum excursion [MXEcomp] score of less than 70% based on Limits of Stability) were divided into an exercise group and control group. After 12 weeks of balance exercises, mean MXEcomp improved (p < .05) from 58.6% to 79.0% in the exercise group. EPEcomp (composite endpoint excursion), RTcomp (composite reaction time), SVcomp3 (composite sway velocity on thick foam with the eyes open), UG (up and go) also improved, but the functional reach and other static balance indexes did not change. These results indicated that balance training allows older adults with poor balance to improve dynamic balance ability and potentially reduce risk for falls.

Relationship Between Balance Ability, Training and Sports Injury Risk

Traditionally, balance training has been used as part of the rehabilitation programme for ankle injuries. More recently, balance training has been adopted to try and prevent injuries to the ankle and knee joints during sport. The purpose of this review is to synthesise current knowledge in the area of balance ability, training and injury risk, highlight the findings and identify any future research needs. A number of studies have found that poor balance ability is significantly related to an increased risk of ankle injuries in different activities. This relationship appears to be more common in males than females. Multifaceted intervention studies that have included balance training along with jumping, landing and agility exercises have resulted in a significant decrease in ankle or knee injuries in team handball, volleyball and recreational athletes. It is unknown which component of the multifaceted intervention was most effective and whether the effects are additive. As a single intervention, balance training has been shown to significantly reduce the recurrence of ankle ligament injuries in soccer, volleyball and recreational athletes; however, it has not been clearly shown to reduce ankle injuries in athletes without a prior ankle injury. Balance training on its own has also been shown to significantly reduce anterior cruciate ligament injuries in male soccer players. Surprisingly, it was also found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of major knee injuries in female soccer players and overuse knee injuries in male and female volleyball players. The studies with the contrasting findings differed in aspects of their balance training programmes. It would appear that balance training, as a single intervention, is not as effective as when it is part of a multifaceted intervention. Research is required to determine the relative contribution of balance training to a multifaceted intervention so as to generate an effective and efficient preventative programme that can be adopted by athletes of most levels.