4 pages Article comparison essay APA format example provided

Introduction

Balance is the ability to maintain postural control and stability in order to prevent falls, and fall related injuries. Fall related injuries are an important concern not only for the aging population but also in young athletes and specifically in women across their lifespan. The ability to maintain balance is shown in a multitude of studies to reduce the risk of falls and fall related injuries in a variety of populations. Continuous research has shown that balance exercise interventions lead to increased balance ability but there is some discrepancy as to what balance exercises lead to what type of balance gains in various populations.

The purpose of this review is to examine the current research on balance improvement exercise programs and the measurements of balance improvement. For this review 3 studies that researched balance improving exercises and utilized a standardized balance assessment to measure changes in balance from the exercise intervention were compared. The primary points analyzed for each study include; participant population, exercises used for intervention, study design and balance assessment timing.

Methods: Populations Studied

Balance exercise and improvement is important for all demographics but has been shown to be a primary need for research for women and elderly adults.1 Two of the three studies focused on balance exercise effects on both men and women together and didn’t present distinguished data between the male subjects and female subjects. This can make it difficult to see if the same effect was seen equally between sexes. Comparing the effect from the balance intervention between men and women is important because of the need to isolate the best methods to prevent falls for women specifically. One study even noted significant differences in balance program effects on men compared to women. “A Long-term Physical Activity Training Program Increases Strength and Flexibility, and Improves Balance in Older Adults” (2013) 3, found that there was a significant difference between the male and female subjects in balance program effectiveness and duration. From results like these the need for further comparison between men and women in balance programs effectiveness is warranted.

Methods: Exercises Used for Intervention

The studies collected for review used a variety of different balance improvement exercises and program combinations as intervention techniques. One focus in particular for this review is the use of stabilization exercises. As outlined in “Effects Of Two Types Of Trunk Exercises On Balance And Athletic Performance In Youth Soccer Players” (2014) 24 specifically the use of stabilization exercises has shown correlation with balance improvement. Despite this, two of the three studies reviewed used exercise interventions that did not include stabilization exercises 1,3. This suggests additional need for studies that isolate stabilization exercises effect on balance to further explore the potential of these balance techniques.

Methods: Study Design and Assessment timing

All three studies utilized the design of a pre-test directly before the intervention and a post test directly after.  This test timing design to isolate the effects of the intervention itself provides a new and uncommonly used research technique. This not only shows the direct correlation of the balance exercises but also shows the practical implication that exercise interventions could provide patients with an immediate improvement in balance ability.

All of these three studies with the immediate effect study design found improvement in balance directly after the exercise bout. Of the limited scope of the three studies only two focused on dynamic balance and of these only one utilized stabilization exercises.

Results

Of the few studies that were selected for this review, all three found improvements in balance from balance exercises. All three studies found a significant improvement using the base assessment in the type of balance selected for the study. Despite this clear trajectory of balance improvement from balance exercises it can be seen that there is great discrepancy between the populations studied, the interventions and tests implemented and the study design. Since all three studies presented used a different variety of exercises and a different exercise volume combined with different populations it is difficult to draw a conclusion as to which isolated exercises produce the most successful results.

Research Conclusion

Using the information from these studies first and foremost we can conclude that utilizing balance exercises to improve the balance of at risk population will over time lead to improvements in that area of balance. Dynamic exercises used in the study, “Effects Of Two Types Of Trunk Exercises On Balance And Athletic Performance In Youth Soccer Players” (2014) showed that trunk stabilization exercises not only prove successful but can be used with the athletic population to increase balance for sport competition. In the study, “Effect of Core Stabilization and Balance-Training Program on Dynamic Balance” (2013), we can also see that core stabilization resulted in improved dynamic balance, but in this study a different profile of exercises were used with a different population which shows us that potentially a variety of exercises that focus on core work could improve dynamic balance in various populations for differing activities.

Real World Application

Based on the information from these studies one common theme stuck out that applies to my field of interest. As a strength coach I can apply these findings when designing a program for athletes to improve their dynamic balance and therefore their athletic performance. Knowing that core stabilization exercises such as bridge with alternate leg raise and plank with alternating arm and leg raise can improve balance I would incorporate these into an athlete’s training routine specifically during the off season leading up to competition. This would allow for the time it typically takes to see improvements in balance to develop in time for the beginning of the competition season. Then throughout the season I would continue to use these exercises on training and practice days to maintain a high level of dynamic balance to prevent injury and improve overall performance throughout the season. Since there was little evidence on how this difference between sport, gender, age or the exact dosing more research needs to be done in order for me to know the exact expectations to have regarding the time necessary for the balance improvements to be developed for various types of athletes in differing sports.

References

1. Basnet, R., & Gupta, N. (2013). Effect of Core Stabilization and Balance-Training Program on Dynamic Balance. Indian Journal Of Physiotherapy And Occupational Therapy - An International Journal, (1), 218.

2. Imai, A., Kaneoka, K., Okubo, Y., & Shiraki, H. (2014). Effects Of Two Types Of Trunk Exercises On Balance and Athletic Performance In Youth Soccer Players. International Journal Of Sports Physical Therapy, 9(1), 47-57.

3. Seco, J., Abecia, L. C., Echevarría, E., Barbero, I., Torres-Unda, J., Rodriguez, V., & Calvo, J. I. (2013). A Long-Term Physical Activity Training Program Increases Strength and Flexibility, and Improves Balance In Older Adults. Rehabilitation Nursing, 38(1), 37-47. doi:10.1002/rnj.64