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Dynamic postural balance is very beneficial for the smooth running of daily activities and reduces the risk of falling. One of the factors that affect the body's postural balance is Body Mass Index (BMI). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of BMI to dynamic postural balance in Esa Unggul University (UEU) students. This research is a descriptive analytic study with a cross-sectional design. The total sample in this study was 46 UEU students taken by simple random sampling. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters (kg/m2) and is categorized into three groups: underweight (23 kg/m2). Dynamic postural balance data was measured by Y-BT (Y-Balance Test). Hypothesis testing with one-way Anova test at =0.05 showed a significant p=0,001. So, the result of statistical analyses revealed that there seemed to be a tight effect between BMI and dynamic postural balance in students (p=0.001), especially on UEU students.

Steinberg, N, Bar-Sela, S, Moran, U, Pantanowitz, M, Waddington, G, Adams, R, Band, SS, and Funk, S. Injury prevention exercises for reduced incidence of injuries in combat soldiers. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3128–3138, 2021—The aim of this study was to determine the influence of an "all-cause injury" prevention program, focused on static-to-dynamic transitions, on injury prevalence in a military commanders course. Two cohorts of male infantry commanders were recruited (intervention [INT group], n = 196 and controls [CO group], n = 169) and tracked by a physiotherapist, who recorded any injuries that occurred during the 14-week course. Soldiers were tested precourse, midcourse, and postcourse for anthropometrics, proprioception ability, and dynamic postural balance (DPB). The INT group performed injury prevention exercises for 5 minutes, 3 times a week, and the CO group continued with their routine physical fitness sessions. The prevalence of injuries reported to the physiotherapist during the course was significantly lower for the INT group compared with the CO group (14.8 and 34.3%, respectively, p < 0.001). Similarly, rates of injury in the INT group were significantly lower than in the CO group (p < 0.001; hazard = 2.53, 95% confidence interval = 1.62–3.95). Precourse proprioception ability was significantly lower in those that became injured during the commanders course, irrespective of the group. Likewise, for DPB parameters, the injured subjects in both groups had significantly lower precourse scores than the noninjured subjects. From pretesting to midtesting, the injured soldiers in the INT group improved their ability up to the level of the noninjured subjects. A reduced prevalence of injuries was found for soldiers who completed the injury prevention program. Because the subjects soldiers injured on the course had reduced somatosensory abilities at the outset, and as these abilities can be improved by static-to-dynamic exercises, identifying at-risk soldiers and providing them with appropriate strategies for improvement beforehand is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the prevalence of injuries among young combat soldiers as assessed and reported by the military physicians, and to investigate whether parameters such as anthropometric measures, postural balance, proprioceptive ability, and chronic ankle instability are related to injuries during and following an infantry commanders course. In this cross-sectional study, 165 soldiers were tested for anthropometric measurements, proprioceptive ability, and dynamic postural balance (DPB), as well as for their responses to an ankle stability questionnaire (CAIT), on three occasions: pre-course, middle-course, and end-course testing. All musculoskeletal injuries were assessed and recorded in the digital medical file of each participant by specialist military physicians before and during/following the course. Ninety-eight soldiers (59.4%) were injured before the course. Forty soldiers (24.2%) incurred an injury during/following the course (with 33 out of the 40 [82.5%] soldiers that were injured during/following the course having also been injured before the course). Sixty soldiers had no injury before/during/following the course. A survival curve showed that half of the soldiers who were injured during/following the course (20 soldiers) were recorded as injured in the first half of the course (during the first 46 days of the 92-day course). Logistic regression showed that the pre-course parameters that were significant among injured soldiers compared with the non-injured soldiers were: low CAIT results (OR = 2.736, 95% CI = 1.178–6.354), high BMI (OR = 1.234, 95% CI = 1.082–1.406) and reduced proprioceptive ability (OR =.858, 95% CI =.797-.924). With a high prevalence of soldiers injured during and following a commanders course, a somatosensory intervention program should be generalized into the practical daily preparation and training routines of the soldiers for improving somatosensory abilities, optimizing military physical readiness, and for preventing future musculoskeletal injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to evaluate the prevalence of unilateral/bilateral patellofemoral pain (PFP) among young dancers, and to investigate whether different factors are associated with PFP in young dancers, 132 dancers aged 12–14 years were assessed for PFP. Anthropometric parameters, proprioception ability, dynamic postural balance (DPB), and muscle strength were measured. PFP was found in 64.1% of the dancers. No significant differences in the prevalence of dancers with no, unilateral, or bilateral PFP at different ages were found. Significant age effects were found for anthropometric and developmental measurements, and for intensity of training. PFP effect was found for DPB asymmetry, ankle proprioception, and leg-length %height. A higher hip abductor/adductor ratio was associated with PFP in 14-year-old dancers. Binomial logistic regression showed that increased number of hours per day (h/day) and decreased number of hours per week (h/week), low proprioception scores, greater leg length as %height, and more anterior DPB asymmetry were significant predictors of PFP. In conclusion: unilateral/bilateral PFP is common among young dancers. Body morphology, reduced ankle proprioception ability, DPB asymmetry, and increased h/day of practice are associated with PFP. Dance teachers should start monitoring the impact of training and implement injury modification/prevention strategies when their students are at a young age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To detect the effect of combined oral contraceptive pills (COC) on dynamic postural balance in healthy middle aged women. Materials and methods: A prospective randomized controlled study included 200 patients classified into two groups. Group I received COC containing 30 μg of EE and 3 mg of drospirenone for 12 consecutive cycles and Group II received no treatment. Overall, medio-lateral and antero-posterior stability were measured using Biodex system after 12 months. Results: There was a highly statistically significant difference between the 2 study groups regarding estradiol level (12.84 ± 1.96 vs. 38.86 ± 3.99, P value

The aim of this study was to investigate how age and gender affect the dynamic postural balance during tilting perturbation. Fifty healthy subjects (15 young men, 13 young women, 11 elderly men and 11 elderly women) performed balance test on a movable force plate that tilted toe-up and toe-down. As outcome measures, maximum excursion and fluctuation were calculated from center of pressure (COP) data in the sagittal plane (anteroposterior). Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc comparisons were performed for the outcome measures with the independent factors of age and gender. The elderly had a greater COP maximum excursion as compared to the young during both perturbations (). COP fluctuation showed significant interaction of age and gender only in toe-up perturbation (). Especially, age-related difference existed only in women (). These results suggest that elderly women have dynamic balance strategy with great and fluctuated sway in response to toe-up perturbation. The age-related changes in dynamic balance among women may be related to the greater fall rate of elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: It is relevant to understand the possible influence of impaired postural balance on walking performance in multiple sclerosis (MS) gait rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: We expected associations between impaired postural balance and complex walking performance in mildly disabled persons with MS, but not in healthy controls. METHODS: Thirteen persons with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale = 2.5) and 13 healthy controls' walking performance were measured at fast walking speed, Timed Up & Go and Timed 25 Feet Walking. Postural balance was measured by stabilometry, 95% confidence ellipse sway area and sway velocity. RESULTS: Except from sway velocity (p = 0.07), significant differences were found between persons with MS and healthy controls in postural balance and walking. Significant correlations were observed between sway area and Timed Up & Go (r = 0.67) and fastest safe walking speed (r = -0.63) in persons with MS but not in healthy controls (r = 0.52 and r = 0.24, respectively). No other significant correlations were observed between postural balance and walking performance in neither persons with MS nor healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Findings add to the understanding of postural balance andwalking in persons with MS, as impaired postural balance was related to complex walking performance. Exercises addressing impaired postural balance are encouraged in early MS gait rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ankle braces have been suggested to protect ankle joints from a sprain by restricting inversion and improving proprioception. However, the difference in effects between a semi-rigid brace and a soft brace regarding dynamic postural control after landing is not known. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of soft (SB) and semi-rigid (SRB) ankle braces on static and dynamic postural stability in healthy young men. Altogether, 21 male adults (mean age 24.0 ± 1.5 years) were assessed for one leg while wearing non-brace (NB), SB or SRB. Balance in single-limb stance on a single-force platform with open eyes and closed eyes were assessed for the non-dominant leg under SB, SRB, and NB conditions. Locus length/second (mm/s) and the enveloped area (mm⋅s-2) surrounded by the circumference of the wave pattern during postural sway were calculated. For assessing dynamic postural stability, the participant jumped and landed on one leg on a force platform, and the Dynamic Postural Stability Index (DPSI) and the maximum vertical ground reaction force (vGRFmax) were measured. The data were compared among the three conditions with repeated-measures analysis of variance. The correlations between locus length/second, enveloped area, DPSI values (DPSI, Anterior-Posterior Stability Index, Medial-Lateral Stability Index, and Vertical Stability Index), and vGRFmax were then calculated. The results indicated that locus length/second and enveloped area with open eyes and closed eyes were not significantly different for each condition. However, a significant lower in the DPSI and Vertical Stability Index were observed with the SRB in comparison to the SB and NB. A significant improvement in vGRFmax was also observed with the SRB in comparison to NB. SRB demonstrated a positive effect on dynamic postural stability after landing on a single leg and may improve balance by increasing dynamic postural stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies indicate that the effect of training on motor performance in persons with Parkinson's disease (PDP) is dependent on motor intensity. However, training of high motor intensity can be hard to apply in PDP due to e.g. bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and postural instability. Therefore, the aim was to study the effect of motor intensive training performed in a safe anti-gravity environment using lower-body positive pressure (LBPP) technology on performance during dynamic balance related tasks. Thirteen male PDP went through an 8-week control period followed by 8 weeks of motor intensive antigravity training. Seventeen healthy males constituted a control group (CON). Performance during a five repetition sit-to-stand test (STS; sagittal plane) and a dynamic postural balance test (DPB; transversal plane) was evaluated. Effect measures were completion time, functional rates of force development, directional changes and force variance. STS completion time improved by 24% to the level of CON which was explained by shorter sitting-time and standing-time and larger numeric rate of force change during lowering to the chair, indicating faster vertical directional change and improved relaxation. DPB completion time tended to improve and was accompanied by improvements of functional medial and lateral rates of force development and higher vertical force variance during DPB. Our results suggest that the performance improvements may relate to improved inter-limb coordination. It is concluded that 8 weeks of motor intensive training in a safe LBPP environment improved performance during dynamic balance related tasks in PDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Dynamic postural balance is important stability and movement ability of all people. Dynamic postural control has significant influence in sport and physical activities as well as in recovery of movement abilities after trauma. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the dynamic postural control in young healthy people. Hypothesis: There may be significant differences in dynamic postural control between males and female, resulting in lower limbs injuries. Methods: Y Balance Test Lower Quarter (YTB LQ). This test was used to evaluate the dynamic postural balance of the subjects and to predict lower limb injuries. The subjects were 215 healthy, young people (males / females, active / sedentary), with ages between 18 and 29. The results were processed using the one-way ANOVA and the post ANOVA Critical Tukey HSD. Results: The data provided values of dynamic equilibrium, in three directions and for each supporting leg (stance). The values were better in active versus sedentary males, in all directions measured and for each leg. The pattern of better results for active versus sedentary was also found in women. The hypothesis was partially confirmed. The results indicate symmetry of the dynamic postural control for the anterior plane in all subjects. For the medial-posterior plane there is symmetry in trained subjects. There is asymmetry in all subjects for the lateral-posterior plane. For the medial-posterior plane there is asymmetry only in the sedentary subjects. Conclusions: The YB Test is a reliable method for assessing dynamic postural balance and injury prevention. Some actions on asymmetric directions may cause injury of the lower limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the characteristics of dynamic postural responses when subjects attempted to maintain an upright standing position on a support plate during continuous sinusoidal perturbation in the anterior-posterior direction. Fifteen healthy young subjects participated in the experiment. Body movement patterns during the perturbation were captured and analyzed using a 3D motion analysis system (APAS 3D motion analysis, Ariel Dynamics Inc.). Seven markers were attached on the subject's body to measure and analyze the motion patterns. The markers were positioned at the head, chest, hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle. Five different frequencies of motion were applied to the support surface: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 Hz with a 4-cm path of motion at the base. The experiments measured dynamic postural responses in a condition were subjects had their eyes open. The results showed that the median frequency of the knee and ankle increased in all frequency bands. Following an increase in the frequency of the perturbation, the postural control strategy was changed from the ankle strategy to a combined strategy. These experimental results could be applied to the dynamic postural training for the elderly and to rehabilitation training for patients to improve their ability for postural control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies in patients with muscular dystrophies suggest positive effects of aerobic and strength training. These studies focused training on using bicycle ergometers and conventional strength training, which precludes more severely affected patients from participating, because of their weakness. We investigated the functional effects of combined aerobic and strength training in patients with Becker and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies with knee muscle strength levels as low as 3% of normal strength. Eight patients performed 10weeks of aerobic and strength training on an anti-gravity treadmill, which offered weight support up to 80% of their body weight. Six minute walking distance, dynamic postural balance, and plasma creatine kinase were assessed 10weeks prior to training, immediately before training and after 10weeks of training. Training elicited an improvement of walking distance by 8±2% and dynamic postural balance by 13±4%, indicating an improved physical function. Plasma creatine kinase remained unchanged. These results provide evidence that a combination of aerobic and strength training during anti-gravity has the potential to safely improve functional ability in severely affected patients with Becker and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study dynamic postural balance for Parkinson's disease patients, axial mobility and center of foot pressure (COP) were recorded simultaneously during movements of a head or chest. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with treated Parkinson's disease and age matched IS volunteers with no neurological disease participated in this study. Head movements were monitored with a gyroscope on the head, and COP was monitored on a force platform. The subjects were standing upright on the platform and they were asked to rotate the head only alternatively repetitively, and then asked to rotate the chest and head synchronized alternatively repetitively. Both movements were asked to do at own pace for 20 sec, respectively, gazing at a cue synchronized to the head movements. Results: Head angular velocity showed significant differences for ratios of the peak power of the power spectra by the integrated power without the peak power between groups with PD and of volunteers (P < 0.0001), and between movements with the head only and with the head-thorax synchronized (P < 0.05). COP showed significant differences for the integrated power between groups with PD and of volunteers (P < 0.0001) and between movements with the head only and with the head-thorax synchronized (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: This simple and useful measurement might give numerical evaluation of axial rigidity for Parkinson's disease patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study dementing diseases, postural balance was studied on static posture and dynamic posture. Design: Patients with dementing diseases and healthy controls were tested in measuring the center of fool pressure (COP) during standing upright and during standing with knees motion. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients and age-matched 23 controls participated in this study. The patients, aged 50-90 years, consulted us with a chief complaint of memory disturbance, and they got scores below 25 with a questionnaire of the revised version of Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. They were asked to stand still upright on a force platform, keep knees flexed about 90 degrees, and keep knees extended, for 5 sec respectively. Maximal shift of COP, total power of oscillation of COP, and maximal diagonal by boxing the track of COP were discussed. Results: The analysis of variance showed differences significant between the patients and the controls (P < 0.0004), between the shift and the power (P < 0.0001), between the power and the diagonal (P < 0.0001), between standing upright and keeping knees flexed (P < 0.0001), and between standing upright and keeping knees extended (P < 0.0001). Regression analysis showed the predictive equation; [Shift = 0.03 • Age + 7.9, multiple coefficient correlation: 0.07) for the shift on standing upright by the patients, (Shift = 0.2 - Age-2.3, multiple coefficient correlation: 0.68] for the shift on standing upright by the controls, [Shift = 12.9 • Age + 13.0, multiple coefficient correlation: 0.06) for the power on standing upright by the patients, [Shift = 61.0 • Age- 2015.8, multiple coefficient correlation: 0.54] for the power on standing upright by the controls, [Shift = 2.3 • Age + 226.0, multiple coefficient correlation: 0.08] for the diagonal on standing upright by the patients, [Shift = 7.8 • Age-173.1, multiple coefficient correlation: 0.51] for the diagonal on standing upright by the controls. Conclusion: The patients with memory disturbance showed postural balance deteriorated. On static balance, the shift, power, diagonal increased with aging. But, on dynamic balance, the shift, power, diagonal decreased with aging. Not only memory function but also postural balance is affected for dementing diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries to the lower extremities are major factors contributing to drop out from military tasks. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and the parameters that differentiate between the soldiers who incurred these injuries and those who did not along 14 weeks of an infantry commanders course., Methods: One-hundred and sixty-eight participants were recruited from an infantry commanders course. The soldiers were tested before (pre), in the middle (middle) and at the end (last) of the course for anthropometric measurements, proprioceptive ability and dynamic postural balance (DPB), and filled out an ankle stability questionnaire (Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). A physiotherapist followed and recorded all musculoskeletal injuries incurred by the participants during the course., Results: Fifty-eight participants out of the 168 (34.5%) reported some pain/injury. Time effects were found for body mass index, DPB asymmetry, DPB in posterior-medial (P-M) direction and proprioception ability. Injury effects were found for DPB asymmetry, DPB in P-M direction, CAIT and proprioception ability. An interaction was found for proprioception ability. The Cox regression showed that the variables that are mostly effecting injuries were pretesting proprioception ability, DPB asymmetry and CAIT., Conclusions: More than one out of three participants incurred musculoskeletal injuries, with deficits in proprioception ability, DPB and ankle stability in pretesting as major factors contributing to injuries. Further studies should look at the effect of specific exercises such as proprioception, DPB and ankle stability exercises for prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries among combat soldiers., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To detect the effect of combined oral contraceptive pills (COC) on dynamic postural balance in healthy middle aged women., Materials and Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study included 200 patients classified into two groups. Group I received COC containing 30 μg of EE and 3 mg of drospirenone for 12 consecutive cycles and Group II received no treatment. Overall, medio-lateral and antero-posterior stability were measured using Biodex system after 12 months., Results: There was a highly statistically significant difference between the 2 study groups regarding estradiol level (12.84 ± 1.96 vs. 38.86 ± 3.99, P value < 0.001) and progesterone level (0.52 ± 0.25 vs. 11.64 ± 4.53, P value < 0.001). There was a highly statistically significant difference between the 2 study groups regarding mediolateral stability (1.84 ± 0.23 vs. 2.40 ± 0.56, P value < 0.001), antereoposterior stability (1.91 ± 0.29 vs. 2.33 ± 0.61, P value < 0.001) or overall stability (2.42 ± 0.29 vs. 2.95 ± 0.53, P value < 0.001)., Conclusion: COC are effective method of contraception to improve postural balance and decrease risk of injury in normal and athletic women. NCT02855294., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ankle braces have been suggested to protect ankle joints from a sprain by restricting inversion and improving proprioception. However, the difference in effects between a semi-rigid brace and a soft brace regarding dynamic postural control after landing is not known. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of soft (SB) and semi-rigid (SRB) ankle braces on static and dynamic postural stability in healthy young men. Altogether, 21 male adults (mean age 24.0 ± 1.5 years) were assessed for one leg while wearing non-brace (NB), SB or SRB. Balance in single-limb stance on a single-force platform with open eyes and closed eyes were assessed for the non-dominant leg under SB, SRB, and NB conditions. Locus length/second (mm/s) and the enveloped area (mm·s(-2)) surrounded by the circumference of the wave pattern during postural sway were calculated. For assessing dynamic postural stability, the participant jumped and landed on one leg on a force platform, and the Dynamic Postural Stability Index (DPSI) and the maximum vertical ground reaction force (vGRFmax) were measured. The data were compared among the three conditions with repeated-measures analysis of variance. The correlations between locus length/second, enveloped area, DPSI values (DPSI, Anterior-Posterior Stability Index, Medial-Lateral Stability Index, and Vertical Stability Index), and vGRFmax were then calculated. The results indicated that locus length/second and enveloped area with open eyes and closed eyes were not significantly different for each condition. However, a significant lower in the DPSI and Vertical Stability Index were observed with the SRB in comparison to the SB and NB. A significant improvement in vGRFmax was also observed with the SRB in comparison to NB. SRB demonstrated a positive effect on dynamic postural stability after landing on a single leg and may improve balance by increasing dynamic postural stability. Key pointsThis study examined the effect of ankle braces on healthy young individuals during dynamic postural stability using the DPSI.The semi-rigid brace improved dynamic postural stability compared with the soft brace and no brace.

[Purpose] We attempted to determine whether static and dynamic postural control ability fluctuated depending on the influence of the time of day (9 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm), and at which time point postural balance performance was best in healthy individuals. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four healthy subjects participated in this study. The static and dynamic postural balance test was conducted during three sessions (i.e., at 9 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm) with a counterbalanced order for prevention of learning effects. As outcome measurements, AP distance, ML distance, and velocity moment were adopted in the static balance test, and the performance time and total distance were measured in the dynamic balance test. [Results] For the static postural balance test, COP distance was shorter and COP velocity was slower at 9 am compared with those at 1 and 5 pm. In particular, the COP distance at 9 am was statistically different from that at 13 pm. During the dynamic postural balance test, performance time and total distance were influenced by the time of day, as the best performance was observed in the morning. [Conclusion] This study found that static and dynamic postural balance abilities were greatest in the morning and worst at 1 pm. Understanding of the mechanism of the time-of-day effect on postural balance will be helpful for assessment and treatment of postural balance by physical therapists and in making desirable clinical decisions.

This study investigated the characteristics of dynamic postural responses when subjects attempted to maintain an upright standing position on a support plate during continuous sinusoidal perturbation in the anterior-posterior direction. Fifteen healthy young subjects participated in the experiment. Body movement patterns during the perturbation were captured and analyzed using a 3D motion analysis system (APAS 3D motion analysis, Ariel Dynamics Inc.). Seven markers were attached on the subject's body to measure and analyze the motion patterns. The markers were positioned at the head, chest, hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle. Five different frequencies of motion were applied to the support surface: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 Hz with a 4-cm path of motion at the base. The experiments measured dynamic postural responses in a condition were subjects had their eyes open. The results showed that the median frequency of the knee and ankle increased in all frequency bands. Following an increase in the frequency of the perturbation, the postural control strategy was changed from the ankle strategy to a combined strategy. These experimental results could be applied to the dynamic postural training for the elderly and to rehabilitation training for patients to improve their ability for postural control.