What are the hidden shortcomings of balance training research in older adults that prevent its transfer into practice? Scoping review.

Background: Although a lot of attention is paid to the flaws of balance training research in older adults, the low methodological quality and incomplete reporting of studies still limit the knowledge transfer between research and practice. These known shortcomings are considered also as barriers for creating recommendations for balance training in older adults. Despite the considerable efforts to improve the scientific quality of studies, such recommendations have not yet been formulated to date.

The association between muscle mass quantity and its quality in physically active older women.

In this study, the authors aim to determine whether lower limb strength is related to lower limb lean mass and whether this relationship is affected by lower limb functionality in physically active older women. Twenty-six women underwent measures of knee muscles strength and lean mass of lower limbs. Bilateral strength of the knee flexors and extensors was measured by an isokinetic dynamometer.

Sport-specific training induced adaptations in postural control and their relationship with athletic performance.

Effects of various exercise programs on postural balance control in athletes and their underlying physiological mechanisms have been extensively investigated. However, little is known regarding how challenging sport-specific conditions contribute to the improvement of body balance and to what extent these changes may be explained by sensorimotor and/or neuromuscular function adaptations. Analysis of the literature could provide useful information on the interpretation of changes in postural sway variables in response to long-term sport-specific training and their association with performance measures.

The Three-Level Model of Factors Contributing to High-Intensity Intermittent Performance in Male Soccer Players.

High-intensity intermittent performance in soccer is widely assessed using the yo-yo intermittent recovery level 2 test (YYIR2). This test is usually associated with aerobic-anaerobic performance. However, less is known about the direct or indirect contributions of abilities, including the anaerobic component.

Advancing age is associated with more impaired mediolateral balance control after step down task.

Background: To prevent the risk of stair descent falls and associated injuries in the older adults, it is important to understand the factors that affect this frequent locomotion of daily living. The fact that falls are in most cases the result of the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors is very often underestimated when designing test protocols.

Research Question: This study aimed at evaluating balance control during and immediately after step down onto an unstable surface.

Age-related differences in stair descent balance control: Are women more prone to falls than men?

Stair descent is one of the most common forms of daily locomotion and concurrently one of the most challenging and hazardous daily activities performed by older adults. Thus, sufficient attention should be devoted to this locomotion and to the factors that affect it. This study investigates gender and age-related differences in balance control during and after stair descent on a foam mat.

Acute Effect of Ankle Kinesio™ Taping on Lower-Limb Biomechanics During Single-Legged Drop Landing.

Context: Chronic ankle instability is documented to be followed by a recurrence of giving away episodes due to impairments in mechanical support. The application of ankle Kinesiotaping (KT) as a therapeutic intervention has been increasingly raised among athletes and physiotherapists.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impacts of ankle KT on the lower-limb kinematics, kinetics, dynamic balance, and muscle activity of college athletes with chronic ankle instability.

Ankle-knee coupling responses to ankle Kinesio™ taping during single-leg drop landings in collegiate athletes with chronic ankle instability.

Background: Ankle Kinesio-taping (KT) is being globally used an intervention to provide the ankle joint complex with sufficient support against sudden excessive mechanical stress during various activities. However, its effects on proximal joints are unclear. This study investigated the impact of ankle KT on ankle-knee joint coupling in sagittal, frontal and transverse planes.

Is There a Relationship Between Workload and Occurrence of Back Pain and Back Injuries in Athletes?

The back is subjected to a great deal of strain in many sports. Up to 20% of all sports injuries involve an injury to the lower back or neck. Repetitive or high impact loads (e.

The effect of ankle Kinesio™ taping on ankle joint biomechanics during unilateral balance status among collegiate athletes with chronic ankle sprain.

Objectives: To determine the effects of ankle Kinesio-taping (KT) on postural sway, lower limb ROM, and muscle activity during a unilateral balance tasks.

Design: Case control study design.

Setting: Data were collected at the human movement analysis laboratory.

The Effect of Agility Training Performed in the Form of Competitive Exercising on Agility Performance.

: Simulated competition as a training tool has a relevant role in enhancement of exercise intensity, motivation and physical enjoyment. Including a competitive component into the agility training could represent another way to improve agility performance significantly more. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of agility training performed in the form of competitive exercising on agility performance.

Effect of aging on the association between ankle muscle strength and the control of bipedal stance.

Previous studies reported a significant association between postural control and lower-limb strength of several muscle groups, however, they were focused especially on knee muscles and ankle plantar and dorsal flexors. The aim of the present study is to examine the correlation between the muscle strength of ankle invertors, evertors, plantar flexors, and dorsal flexors and the control of bipedal stance in young and older adults. Thirty one young (aged 22.

Muscular Power during a Lifting Task Increases after Three Months of Resistance Training in Overweight and Obese Individuals.

Background: This study evaluates the effect on power produced during a modified lifting task in the overweight and obese after three months of either resistance or aerobic training.

Methods: Seventeen male subjects divided randomly into two groups performed deadlift and deadlift high pull, both with increasing weights up to maximal power, prior to and after the training programs (three sessions per week).

Results: Their mean power increased significantly during the deadlift at 20 kg (14.

The effect of balance training intervention on postural stability in children with asthma.

Objective: Pulmonary rehabilitation is mainly focused on exercise training and breathing retraining in children with asthma. Conversely, balance training is not usually recommended for the treatment, although postural deficits were found in these patients. Therefore, this study assessed the effect of balance training intervention on postural stability in children with asthma.

Balance Performance During Perturbed Standing Is Not Associated With Muscle Strength and Power in Young Adults.

The authors investigate the ways in which varied postural responses to translating platform perturbations are associated with the variables of strength and power. Twenty-four physically active and 27 sedentary young adults were exposed to a set of postural perturbations at varied velocities (10 and 20 cm/s) and the respective accelerations (6.4 and 6.

Three months of resistance training in overweight and obese individuals improves reactive balance control under unstable conditions.

Background: Contrary to static and dynamic balance, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the training induced changes in reactive balance control in response to unexpected perturbations in overweight and obese individuals.

Objective: This study evaluates the effect of 3 months of resistance and aerobic training programs on postural responses to unexpected perturbations under stable and unstable conditions in the overweight and obese.

Methods: A group of 17 overweight and obese subjects, divided into two groups, underwent either resistance or aerobic training for a period of 3 months (3 sessions per week).

Unilateral Stability and Visual Feedback Body Control Improves After Three-Month Resistance Training in Overweight Individuals.

The authors evaluated the effect of 3 months of resistance and aerobic training (3 sessions/week) on body balance in a group of 25 overweight and obese individuals. Prior to and after the training, they performed static and task-oriented balance tests under various conditions. Mean center of pressure (CoP) velocity and mean trace length of the CoP in the y-axis registered during a one-legged stance significantly decreased after the resistance training (19.

Upper and Lower Body Muscle Power Increases After 3-Month Resistance Training in Overweight and Obese Men.

This study evaluates the effect of 3 months resistance and aerobic training on muscle strength and power in 17 male overweight and obese men. Subjects underwent either a resistance or aerobic training for a period of 3 months (three sessions per week). Peak isometric force, rate of force development, peak power and height of countermovement and squat jumps, reactive strength index, and mean power in the concentric phase of bench presses were all assessed prior to and after completing the training program.

Postural and trunk responses to unexpected perturbations depend on the velocity and direction of platform motion.

This study compares postural and trunk responses to translating platform perturbations of varied velocities and directions. A group of 18 young and physically active subjects were exposed to a set of postural perturbations at varied velocities (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm/s) and directions of platform movement (forward, backward, left-lateral, and right-lateral). The center of pressure (CoP) displacement measurement, in addition to the trunk motion (representing the center of mass (CoM) displacement), were both monitored.

Postural stability in school-age children with mild bronchial asthma disease (a pilot study).

Objective: This study assessed the postural stability in children with asthma using balance tests under conditions of a comfortable foot placement and with a foot placement provoking instability.

Methods: A group of 10 school children from 8 to 10 years old with mild intermittent asthma and 10 healthy children of the same age range performed four balance tests in a randomized order: preferred stance, adjusted stance, and tandem stance each under both conditions of eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed (EC), as well as a one-legged stance with eyes-opened conditions. To determine postural stability, the center of pressure (CoP) movement was recorded.

Towards an alternative testing strategy for nanomaterials used in nanomedicine: lessons from NanoTEST.

In spite of recent advances in describing the health outcomes of exposure to nanoparticles (NPs), it still remains unclear how exactly NPs interact with their cellular targets. Size, surface, mass, geometry, and composition may all play a beneficial role as well as causing toxicity. Concerns of scientists, politicians and the public about potential health hazards associated with NPs need to be answered.

The role of lateral preference of lower limbs in a postural stabilization task.

Objective: Postural control is a complex skill based on the interaction of dynamic sensorimotor processes. This study assessed the effect of lateral perturbations on postural re-stabilization regarding lower limb preference.

Methods: A group of 14 physically active individuals (9 male, 5 female) randomly underwent postural perturbations in lateral-left and lateral-right directions at a velocity of 0.

Variability of centre of pressure movement during gait in young and middle-aged women.

The variability of the centre of pressure (COP) movement is a tool that is often used for stability assessments during standing; however, this variable can provide relevant findings during dynamic conditions, which are more related to fall risks. The aim of this study was to investigate age-related differences in the variability of COP movement. Healthy young (younger group - 25 subjects, age 22.

Reliability and methodological issues of power assessment during chest presses on unstable surface with different weights.

Aim: The study compares the reliability of peak power (Ppeak) and mean power in acceleration (Pmean acc) and entire concentric phase (Pmean total) of chest presses on the bench and unstable Swiss ball with different weights.

Methods: A group of 32 fit men performed over 2 testing sessions 3 trials of barbell chest presses on the bench and Swiss ball, without and with countermovement, with weights of 40, 60 and 80% 1RM.

Results: High values of correlation coefficients (above .