Balance Exercises Research Articles

Education of Birth Ball Training as Therapy to Relieving Labor Pain

Labor pain arises because of the mother's physical and psychological response. Emotions become unstable due to anxiety and fear which worsen the condition of labor pain. The pain experienced by the mother during labor can give rise to fear which makes her anxious and often leads to panic attacks. This condition causes a physiological response that can disrupt the condition of the uterus when it contracts so that the impact of labor will last a long time. Usually, the mother who is about to give birth will find it difficult to adjust to the conditions of labor pain, so that uterine contractions cannot be controlled which causes the first stage to lengthen and the fetus to be disturbed. A prolonged labor process is a type of birth complication that is worrying, complicated, and unpredictable. A non-pharmacological method that can reduce labor pain is birth ball therapy. Research that has been conducted has found that birth ball exercises affect reducing labor pain. PkM is implemented through educational activities where there are 30 PkM participants. The results of the PkM implementation show that the PkM participants have been successfully educated through this PkM activity so that they can apply birth ball exercises to reduce labor pain in mothers. Due to the implementation of this PkM activity, it is hoped that there will be an increase in the knowledge of midwives who play a role in initial level services to provide appropriate steps in dealing with labor pain in mothers using complementary therapy, and birth ball exercises.

TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES IN INACTIVE WOMEN INDUCED BY VARIOUS WELLNESS PROGRAMS

Hypokinesia has reached pandemic levels globally. In response, numerous wellness programs have been developed as potential solutions to this issue. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different three-month experimental wellness programs. The sample consisted of 56 inactive women (aged 30-40), divided into two experimental groups (E1, N=28; E2, N=28). Group E1 participated in an aqua aerobics program (3 sessions per week, 45 minutes each), for 12 weeks. Group E2, followed a workplace wellness program that included Fit ball exercises (3 sessions per week, 15 minutes each), along with relaxation massages (3 sessions per week, 10 minutes each) for 12 weeks. The results of the t-test for the experimental group E1 (aqua aerobics) showed a significant difference between the initial and final measurements for all tested variables (vital capacity, systolic arterial blood pressure, diastolic arterial blood pressure, heart rate at rest, working pulse, Romberg’s test, Stanga’s test, and relative oxygen consumption). The t-test results of the experimental group E2 (fit-ball with relaxation massage) show a significant difference in all tested variables, with the exception of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The analysis of the differences between the experimental groups (E1 and E2) showed a significant difference in favour of group E1 at the final test, except for systolic and diastolic blood pressure and relative oxygen consumption. Applied experimental models of wellness programs represent a good instrument for optimizing the functional abilities of inactive women aged 30-40.

A Preliminary Study on the Effects of 4-Week Training Program with Interactive Floor Support on Plantar Pressure Distribution in Sedentary Individuals

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate on the effects of foot exercises by using interactive floor support as a modality of rehabilitation technology on plantar pressure distribution in sedentary individuals. Methods: Participants who were aged between 18-35, who agreed to participate voluntarily and had no pathology developed in the lower extremities in the past 6 months were included in this study. In order to determine the plantar pressure distribution change of all participants, the first and last evaluation was measured with Emed® Pedobarography. Balance and proprioception exercises on both lower extremities for 12 sessions (for four weeks, three sessions per week, lasts 15 minutes each) were performed with an interactive floor device. Results: A total of 15 healthy and sedentary subjects (12 female, 3 male, with a mean of 20,27±0,961 years and 21,31 ± 3,027 kg/m2 BMI) completed the four-week training protocol. Maximum force of total and hindfoot in both feet significantly decreased after 4-week training (p.05). Conclusion: Based on our results, the present study revealed that the 4-week training programme with interactive floor support for ankle joint could decrease maximum force of total and hindfoot on the bottom of the dominant and non-dominant side feet in healthy and sedentary individuals. Future investigation should be conducted to clarify the effects of long-term training programs with interactive floor support on plantar pressure distribution in patients with foot deformities.

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions for adults with subjective cognitive decline: a network meta-analysis and component network meta-analysis

BackgroundNon-pharmacological interventions have a myriad of available intervention options and contain multiple components. Whether specific components of non-pharmacological interventions or combinations are superior to others remains unclear. The main aim of this study is to compare the effects of different combinations of non-pharmacological interventions and their specific components on health-related outcomes in adults with subjective cognitive decline.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and China’s two largest databases, CNKI and Wanfang, were searched from inception to 22nd, January 2023. Randomized controlled trials using non-pharmacological interventions and reporting health outcomes in adults with subjective cognitive decline were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Component network meta-analysis was conducted employing an additive component model for network meta-analysis. This study followed the PRISMA reporting guideline and the PRISMA checklist is presented in Additional file 2.ResultsA total of 39 trials with 2959 patients were included (range of mean ages, 58.79–77.41 years). Resistance exercise might be the optimal intervention for reducing memory complaints in adults with subjective cognitive decline; the surface under the cumulative ranking p score was 0.888, followed by balance exercise (p = 0.859), aerobic exercise (p = 0.832), and cognitive interventions (p = 0.618). Music therapy, cognitive training, transcranial direct current stimulation, mindfulness therapy, and balance exercises might be the most effective intervention components for improving global cognitive function (iSMD, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.36 to 1.29), language (iSMD, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.38), ability to perform activities of daily living (iSMD, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.89), physical health (iSMD, 3.29; 95% CI, 2.57 to 4.00), and anxiety relief (iSMD, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.16), respectively.ConclusionsThe form of physical activity performed appears to be more beneficial than cognitive interventions in reducing subjective memory complaints for adults with subjective cognitive decline, and this difference was reflected in resistance, aerobic, and balance exercises. Randomized clinical trials with high-quality and large-scale are warranted to validate the findings.Trial registrationPROSPERO registry number. CRD42022355363.

Process evaluation protocol plan for a home-based physical activity intervention versus educational intervention for persistent taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (B-HAPI study): a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundEvaluation publications typically summarize the results of studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of an intervention, but little is shared concerning any changes implemented during the study. We present a process evaluation protocol of a home-based gait, balance, and resistance exercise intervention to ameliorate persistent taxane-induced neuropathy study according to 7 key elements of process evaluation.MethodsThe process evaluation is conducted parallel to the longitudinal, randomized control clinical trial examining the effects of the home-based gait, balance, and resistance exercise program for women with persistent peripheral neuropathy following treatment with taxanes for breast cancer (IRB approval: Pro00040035). The flowcharts clarify how the intervention should be implemented in comparable settings, fidelity procedures help to ensure the participants are comfortable and identify their individual needs, and the process evaluation allows for the individual attention tailoring and focus of the research to avoid protocol deviation.ConclusionsThe publication of the evaluation protocol plan adds transparency to the findings of clinical trials and favors process replication in future studies. The process evaluation enables the team to systematically register information and procedures applied during recruitment and factors that impact the implementation of the intervention, thereby allowing proactive approaches to prevent deviations from the protocol. When tracking an intervention continuously, positive or negative intervention effects are revealed early on in the study, giving valuable insight into inconsistent results. Furthermore, a process evaluation adds a participant-centered element to the research protocols, which allows a patient-centered approach to be applied to data collection.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04621721, November 9, 2020, registered prospectively. Protocol version: April 27, 2020, v2.

The Effect Of Gym Ball Coaching On Progress Primigravida Mother's Delivery

The Effect Of Gym Ball Coaching On Progress Primigravida Mother's Delivery

Improving quality of life, sleep and mental health through multicomponent training versus Brazilian recommendations of physical activity in post-COVID-19 patients: CORE-study–A randomized controlled trial

Background and objectivesTo analyze the effects of multicomponent training on the quality of life (Qol), sleep quality (SQ), depressive symptoms (DS), and health perception (HP) in adults and elderly individuals post-COVID-19 infection. MethodsRandomized controlled clinical trial, with an intervention group (IG) of multicomponent physical training lasting 11 weeks and a control group (CG). The participants were adults and elderly people, of both genders, who were infected with COVID-19 in its moderate to severe type. The study was carried out in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil from November 2021 to April 2023. The training program consisted of balance, strength and aerobic exercises. QoL, DS, SQ and HP were evaluated at baseline and at the 12th week. Outcomes were analyzed by Protocol (PP) and by Intention to Treat (ITT). Generalized Estimating Equations were used, with Bonferroni post-hoc; α: 0.05. ResultsThirty-nine subjects (19 women, 52.50 ± 12.97 years old) composed the sample. In the ITT analysis, an improvement in QoL was observed only in the intervention group (IG-pre: 10.70 ± 0.77, post: 8.83 ± 0.82, p < 0.001; CG-pre: 10.11 ± 0.81, post:11.00 ± 1.11, p = 0.408). In relation to SQ, improvement was also found only in the IG (IG-pre: 8.80 ± 0.94, post: 6.47 ± 0,88, p < 0.001; CG-pre: 7.00 ± 1,04, post: 7.21 ± 1.20, p = 0.768). In DS, improvement was observed (p < 0.001) in both groups (IG-pre: 8.89 ± 1.14, post: 4.71 ± 1.22; CG-pre: 9.06 ± 1.68, post: 6.92 ± 1.80). In the PP analysis, only SQ and DS improved in both groups. No significant improvements were observed in any of the analyses for the HP outcome. ConclusionMulticomponent training demonstrated superiority in enhancing QoL and SQ, and both approaches (multicomponent training and recommendations for physical activity) appear to mitigate depressive symptoms. Both approaches seem not to significantly improve HP. Brazilian clinical trials registryRBR-10y6jhr.

Effect of Progressive Balance Control Strategies on Chronic Ankle Instability in Middle-Aged Obese Women.

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a disease characterized by persistent feelings of instability in the ankle joint and a propensity for recurrent ankle sprains. It is often caused by ligamentous laxity or neuromuscular deficits. Middle-aged obese females represent a demographic subset at increased risk for CAI due to factors such as reduced proprioception and increased loading on the ankle joint. The gaps in the current evidence suggest that more research is needed on middle-aged obese females, who are particularly vulnerable to CAI due to physiological changes associated with poor balance. This study aims to determine the effect of progressive balance control strategies on CAI in middle-aged obese women. In this experimental study, 72 patients with CAI in middle-aged women were selected randomly using a simple random sampling method. Females aged 35-45 with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 kg/m2 and a history of ankle sprains greater than one and having residual symptoms. The experimental group (Group B) received progressive balance control strategies, and the conventional group (Group A) received conventional balance exercises. Foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) scale, push-and-release test (PART), single-leg stance test (SLST), evaluations, and star excursion balance test (SEBT) were used for pre- and posttreatment. The experimental group post-intervention for static balance, dynamic balance, and postural control tests showed extremely significant improvement with a p-value of <0.0001. Between groups A and B, the dynamic balance was considered very significant, with a p-value of 0.0001. In the single-leg stance test, Group B's result was significantly greater than that ofGroup A's (63.4 + 16.1 and 63.4 + 16.1). PART results indicate that Group B is more significant than Group A (0.76 and 0.51, respectively). The study concluded that progressive balance control strategy training is effective in middle-aged obese women with CAI.

A LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE EFFECT OF TENNIS BALL EXERCISE ON RHOMBOIDS TRIGGER POINTS

Many ailments, including conditions like myofascial pain, trigger points, sports injuries and in some neurological diseases, benefit from using tennis ball exercises. This Literature review aimed to determine the effectiveness of tennis ball exercise on rhomboids trigger points. OBJECTIVE: The research was to evaluate the effect of tennis ball exercises on rhomboid trigger points. METHOD: The authors conducted a PubMed, and Google Scholar search and collected the reviews consisting of total systemic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and experimental studies regarding the current evidence of effect of tennis ball exercise on rhomboids trigger points. RESULT: Tennis ball exercise have a significant effect on rhomboids trigger points. The articles were compiled in full text. Total of 30 articles were identified, out of which 20 articles were selected for review. KEYWORDS: Tennis ball, trigger points, myofascial pain, rhomboids muscle

Disaster Preparedness Intervention for Older Adults (Seniors' Positive Involvement in Community Emergencies): Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study.

Older adults comprise a substantial proportion of the US population requiring support during disaster events. Previous research demonstrates that older adults are resilient but deficient in disaster preparedness and lacking in community engagement. There is a gap in high-quality research in this area. This study aims to fill this gap by developing a 4-phase intervention to improve mobility and balance, decrease fall risks (mitigation), increase knowledge of disaster preparedness (preparedness), improve community emergency operation plans (response), and improve self-efficacy in disaster recovery (recovery) for older adults. This is a community-based, 10-month study in a large Midwestern urban and suburban location targeting community-dwelling older adults. The 4 phases of interventions address mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery-aspects improving outcomes from disaster events. In total, 4 to 6 one-hour seminars each month are provided to community-dwelling older adults to improve disaster preparedness and recovery planning. A critical incident packet with resources on essential information such as medications, a communication plan, evacuation resources, and supplies was started and is being reviewed. Preintervention surveys are orally given, with research assistants aiding in any difficulties the participants have. After the surveys, 2 individual 20-minute presentations separated by a short break for snacks and initial completion of their disaster plan preserve the older adult's attention. Mitigation efforts to improve mobility and safety are offered with 10 visits to the older adults' residences, adapting physical activity and balance exercises to the individual's needs. To address response needs, the emergency operations plans for 2 of the major cities are being amended for specific functional needs and access guidelines. Measurements include accelerometers to assess improvement in mobility, fall risk assessments, an abbreviated Federal Emergency Management Association Household Survey, an assessment for disaster engagement with partners tool, a brief pain inventory assessment, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. We analyze data descriptively and compare pre- and postintervention data for each phase with paired-samples t test and other nonparametric techniques (proportion tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests). Overarching objectives prioritized during this intervention include underscoring respect for the experience and resilience found in older adults and engaging them in specialized roles to support their communities during disaster events. The intervention was funded in July 2023; enrollment began in November 2023 and is continuing. We will conclude data collection by July 2025. Published study results can be expected in early 2025. With improved disaster preparedness, mobility, recovery planning, and inclusion as a resource in community disasters, older adults are expected to be safer and be able to age in place. If successful, future studies will focus on outreach and sustainability. This study will serve as a model for older adult disaster preparedness and community involvement. DERR1-10.2196/58895.

Physical exercise in haemodialysis patients: which type of exercise is more convenient?

Randomized intra-haemodialysis and home-based exercise trials have demonstrated similar efficacy in improving physical performance, particularly in increasing walking distance. During dialysis sessions, patients can engage in structured, supervised activities such as cycling or resistance exercises, ensuring safety and immediate feedback from healthcare professionals. This structured nature can significantly enhance adherence, making exercise a regular part of the patient's treatment schedule. Home-based exercise offers flexibility and convenience. Patients can incorporate activities like walking, stretching or using resistance bands into their daily lives. This flexibility allows patients to exercise at their own pace and according to their preferences, fostering independence and self-management. By continuing physical activity at home, patients can maintain continuity in their exercise regimen, which is crucial for long-term health benefits. Combining both intra-haemodialysis and home-based exercises has the potential to improve overall adherence to exercise programs. Strategies such as patient education, customized plans, monitoring and feedback, and support systems can help combine these two exercise types. By integrating these two modalities, healthcare providers can create a comprehensive and balanced exercise regimen that enhances adherence, promotes independence and maximizes health benefits for dialysis patients, fostering long-term health and well-being through sustained physical activity. However, this dual approach, which caters to both the need for medical supervision and the desire for personal autonomy, has yet to be tested in randomized trials.

Effects of home-based rope therapy on children with special educational needs

Rope Therapy, a novel complementary therapy, combines professional rope techniques and professional comprehensive sensory integration training program, treatment, and training programs for people with special educational needs for the sake of enhancing their vestibular sense, proprioception, muscle tension, and whole body coordination ability by stimulating the brain nerves and secretion of neurotransmitters. Method: Rope therapy is conducted with the model “Home-based Rope Therapy Program” for 12 weeks. Parents who attended this program are required to accept training and assessment. To conduct the therapy independently, parents have to learn how to use the tools of this home-based rope therapy and interact with children during the training. In this study, children had intensive rope exercise training at home with positive feedback from parents within this period leading to higher emotional control and concentration level, more eye contact, and emotional and wording expression. The family would also receive feedback from the teachers, other professional trainers, and sports coaches related to the condition of the children. Result: A total of 69 families participated in the survey with children aged 4 to 26, including those who were diagnosed or had a suspicion of the autism spectrum, hyperactivity and inattention, dyslexia, and other special needs. After 12 weeks of home training, the result showed that the child’s concentration levels and control of negative emotions have been significantly improved. Meanwhile, it has been proven that the “Home-based Rope Therapy Program” is effective in bringing positive interactions and emotions to children and families. Conclusion: “Home-based Rope Therapy Program” provides children with intensive rope exercise training at home, satisfying children’s physical and sensory needs. Also, this program increases children’s exercise in muscle strength, balance, and coordination leading to higher concentration levels and high-quality parent-child time, thereby improving school children’s emotional control and concentration, and enhancing family harmony.

Effect of Digital Therapeutics on Range of Motion, Flexibility, Dynamic Balance, Satisfaction, and Adherence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigated the effect of digital therapeutics on ROM, flexibility, dynamic balance, satisfaction, and adherence. A sample of 34 volunteers was randomly assigned into a Digital Therapeutic Group (DTG) (n = 17) and a Non-Digital Therapeutic Group (NDG) (n = 17). The groups performed four calf muscle stretches and two hamstring stretches for 4 weeks. Flexibility and balance were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of the exercise program. A survey was conducted to assess subjects’ satisfaction, and exercise performance record papers and video records were assessed for exercise adherence. The paired t-test was used to compare the two populations before and after the program. The independent t-test was used to compare the change scores between groups. In the pre- and post-comparison within each group, the DTG group showed significant differences in all items except the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) (p &lt; 0.05). The left straight leg raise (SLR) was significantly different (p &lt; 0.05), and there was a significant difference in exercise satisfaction and participation between the two groups (p &lt; 0.05). DTG showed improved flexibility, dynamic balance, and higher exercise satisfaction and adherence than NDG. The application, providing lower extremity stretching, can improve dorsiflexion ROM, flexibility of the lower extremity, dynamic balance, exercise satisfaction, and exercise adherence.

Effectiveness of Balance Exercise and Brisk Walking on Alleviating Nonmotor and Motor Symptoms in People With Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial With 6-Month Follow-up

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of balance exercise and brisk walking on nonmotor and motor symptoms, balance and gait functions, walking capacity, and balance confidence in Parkinson disease (PD) at posttraining and 6-month follow-up. DesignTwo-arm, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial SettingUniversity research laboratory and the community ParticipantsNinety-nine eligible individuals with mild-to-moderate PD InterventionsParticipants were randomized to balance and brisk walking group (B&B, n=49) or active control group (n=50). B&B received ten 90-minute sessions of balance exercises and brisk walking supervised by physical therapists for 6 months (week 1-6: weekly, week 7-26: monthly), whereas control practiced whole-body flexibility and upper limb strength exercise at same dosage (180 min/wk). Both groups performed unsupervised home exercises 2-3 times/wk during intervention and continued at follow-up. Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcomes were Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale nonmotor (MDS-UPDRS-I) and motor (MDS-UPRDS-III) scores. Secondary outcomes were mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BEST) score, comfortable gait speed (CGS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), dual-task timed-Up-and-Go (DTUG) time, and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale score. ResultsEighty-three individuals completed the 6-month intervention with no severe adverse effects. The mean between-group (95% CI) difference for the MDS-UPDRS nonmotor score was 1.50 (0.19-2.81) at 6 months and 1.09 (−0.66 to 2.85) at 12 months. The mean between-group (95% CI) difference for the MDS-UPDRS motor score was 3.75 (0.69-6.80) at 6 months and 4.57 (1.05-8.01) at 12 months. At 6 and 12 months, there were significant between-group improvements of the B&B group in mini-BEST score, CGS, 6MWT, and DTUG time. ConclusionsThis combined balance and brisk walking exercise program alleviates nonmotor and motor symptoms and improves walking capacity, balance, and gait functions posttraining, with positive carryover effects for all except nonmotor outcomes, at 6-month follow-up in mild-to-moderate PD.

Telerehabilitation-based training to improve balance confidence, falls efficacy, functional independence in individuals with stroke: a randomized controlled trial

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of telerehabilitation-based balance and coordination exercises on balance confidence, fall efficacy, and functional independence in stroke patients. Methods: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted on 30 stroke patients (15 in the telerehabilitation-based group and 15 in the paper-based control group). The telerehabilitation group received video-based exercise training, while the control group received paper-based exercise training. Fear of falling (FES-I), balance (ABC), self-management (SSEQ) and satisfaction with telemedicine (TSQ) were evaluated before and six weeks after treatment. Results: The results of the present study showed that both telerehabilitation-based video training and paper- based exercise prescription methods were effective in terms of balance confidence, fall efficiency and stroke-specific functional independence (p&lt;0.05). Besides, telerehabilitation-based video training was more effective in balance confidence (p=0.042) and functional independence (0.018). In addition, the satisfaction of individuals in the telerehabilitation group with the telerehabilitation application was above average (59.73±8.15). Conclusion: Telerehabilitation-based video exercises in stroke patients may provide additional advantages in terms of balance confidence and fall efficiency. In addition, individuals with stroke were satisfied with the remote rehabilitation application.

The effect of ballistic exercises on some kinematic variables and the development of special physical characteristics for the front straight punch skill for karate juniors

The effect of ballistic exercises on some kinematic variables and the development of special physical characteristics for the front straight punch skill for karate juniors

6주간 코어 안정화, 유연성 및 균형 운동이 농촌 고령여성의 근지구력, 유연성과 균형 능력에 미치는 영향

6주간 코어 안정화, 유연성 및 균형 운동이 농촌 고령여성의 근지구력, 유연성과 균형 능력에 미치는 영향

Effect of Gaze Stabilization Exercise with Balance Exercise on Static and Dynamic Balance Function of H ealthy Y oung A dults: A R andomized Controlled Trial

Effect of Gaze Stabilization Exercise with Balance Exercise on Static and Dynamic Balance Function of H ealthy Y oung A dults: A R andomized Controlled Trial

The effect of whole-body vibration on glucose and lipid profiles in type-2 diabetes: a systematic review and pairwise and network meta-analyses of randomized trials

Whole-body vibration (WBV), a training method based on the stimulation of muscle contraction by mechanical vibration generated in a vibrating platform, is claimed to be effective in diabetes management. This meta-analysis evaluated WBV effects against other exercises, placebo, or no intervention in type-2 diabetes. Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched through June 2023. Randomized controlled trials reported the effect of WBV on glucose (hemoglobin A1C and fasting blood glucose), and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high, and low-density lipoprotein) were included. Two researchers independently extracted the characteristics of the studies, participants, WBV intervention and comparisons, and the outcomes from the included articles. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale assessed trial quality. In this review, all articles had no high risk of bias according to the PEDro scale, with studies achieving optimal, excellent, and good scores. Network meta-analysis revealed that WBV was effective for reducing hemoglobin A1C when compared with conventional (mean difference: − 1.58%, 95%CrI: − 2.51, − 0.47) and resistance exercise (mean difference: − 1.32%, 95%CrI: − 1.96, − 0.33). WBV had also a desirable but insignificant effect on hemoglobin A1C compared to stretching and balance exercises, placebo, and no intervention. The current pairwise meta-analysis did not show that WBV favors fasting blood glucose and lipids. WBV may have potential advantages for glycemic control in type-2 diabetes. However, uncertainties in the findings remain due to the limited number of studies and their heterogeneity.

Effect of low versus high balance training complexity on balance performance in male adolescents

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to determine the effects of low (i.e., balance task only) versus high (i.e., balance task combined with an additional motor task like dribbling a basketball) balance training complexity (6 weeks of training consisting of 2 × 30 min balance exercises per week) on measures of static and dynamic balance in 44 healthy male adolescents (mean age: 13.3 ± 1.6 years).ResultsIrrespective of balance training complexity, significant medium- to large-sized pretest to posttest improvements were detected for static (i.e., One-Legged Stance test, stance time [s], 0.001 < p ≤ 0.008) and dynamic (i.e., 3-m Beam Walking Backward test, steps [n], 0.001 < p ≤ 0.002; Y-Balance-Test-Lower-Quarter, reach distance [cm], 0.001 < p ≤ 0.003) balance performance. Further, in all but one comparison (i.e., stance time with eyes opened on foam ground) no group × test interactions were found. These results imply that balance training is effective to improve static and dynamic measures of balance in healthy male adolescents, but the effectiveness seems unaffected by the applied level of balance training complexity.