Comparison of Dynamic Balance in Football Players with and without Genu Varum Using Star Excursion Balance Test

Background and Aims: Genu Varum is an angular deformity of the knee that is responsible for the alteration of the forces at the knee so that the line of force shifts farther medially from the knee joint centre intensifying the medial compartment load and creating a medial joint reaction force that is nearly three and a half times that of the lateral compartment. Football is a high intensity sport that places inordinate amounts of load and torque on the knee joint making it more susceptible to growth deformities in the developing age groups. Genu varum is a predisposing factor to lateral instability which affects dynamic balance. This study consists of a comparison in dynamic balance between professional football players, those without a knee deformity and those with genu varum deformity using the Star excursion balance test. Methodology: A comparative study was conducted among 40 elite level football players and they were divided into two groups one of which consisted football players without a knee deformity and the other group which comprised of football players with genu varum. Genu varum was calculated using the intercondylar distance measure. Star excursion balance test was used to assess dynamic balance of each individual and their average distances were calculated for each direction in the test. Results: The Reach Distances in the anterior direction showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control and Group Bs whereas significant differences (P<0.05) were obtained in the Posteromedial and Posterolateral directions. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in reach distances in the anterior direction but significant differences in the reach distances were observed in the posteromedial as well as the posterolateral direction suggesting that genu varum deformity does affect the dynamic balance in elite level football players. Key words: Genu Varum, Football Players, Dynamic Balance, Star excursion balance test.

Assessment of Static and Dynamic Balance in Swimmers

Background: Swimming can be defined as an activity in which a person practices a regulated Olympic sport in order to move as fast as possible through the water due to the propulsive forces generated by arm, leg, and body movements overcoming the resistance of water. Swimming is performed in either a supine or prone position with a bilaterally-symmetric motion and is influenced by buoyancy. In other words, it is nearly unaffected by gravity and requires the same muscle exertion of both the right and left extremities. Balance is considered to be an important component of motor performance tasks. It is controlled by the central nervous system with the help of input from the visual, tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular systems (5) Balance can be defined as a condition during which the body's center-of-gravity (COG) is maintained within its base of support (BOS). Methodology: In this study, 50 Competitive swimmers were included. 36 Male and 14 Female, with a mean age, height and weight of 22.68 years, 175.56 cm and 70.94 kg respectively. Each had a swimming career more than 5 years, Training at least 5 days a week for 2 hours or more with an average of 10.12 years, 5.54 days a week for 2.68 hour training sessions. Static Balance was assessed using Balance Error Scoring System where the subjects were asked to stand with their eyes closed for 20 seconds in 6 Different Positions and the number of errors made were noted. Dynamic Balance was assessed using Star Excursion Balance Test were, a Star was marked on the ground to have 8 directions. The subject stood in the center of the star and had to reach as far as they could in each direction. This distance from the middle to the point of contact of their toe was noted and relative distance was calculated using Limb Length. The Results of both the test was compared with the normal data present. Result: The result of the test done to evaluate static balance; BESS showed that out of 50 participants 19 had superior balance, 18 had above average balance and 13 had broadly normal balance and the errors on the firm surface and soft surface had a mean and standard deviation of 2 ± 1.12 and 4.1±1.31 respectively. On the other hand, the test done to evaluate dynamic balance; SEBT showed that in each direction on an average the swimmer could reach 119.21±8.39 % relative distance in each direction. Conclusion: Different tests were conducted in the study to understand if competitive swimmers are somehow weak in terms of static and dynamic balance. The entire study is based on the effectiveness of maintaining and enhancing the static and dynamic stability among the swimmers. This study concludes that competitive swimmers have Superior Static and Dynamic Balance because of strong core muscles used to keep their body streamlined during swimming and good flexibility and neuromuscular feedback. Key words: Balance, Swimmers, Star Excursion Balance test (SEBT), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS).

EFFECT OF HAMSTRING TIGHTNESS ON DYNAMIC BALANCE IN YOUNG FEMALES AGED 19-25 YEARS

Aim of the study- To compare the dynamic balance in young females with normal Body Mass Index (B.M.I.) with and without hamstring tightness. Method- It was a cross-sectional, comparative study. 22 young females were included in the study. Hamstring tightness was assessed using the Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test and based on the values; subjects were divided into 2 groups- Group A (with tightness) and Group B (without tightness). Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) was used to assess the dynamic balance in subjects from both groups. The data was analysed results were compared using appropriate statistical tools. The study showed that st Result- ar excursion balance test values were more in the group without tightness (p-value <0.0012) as compared to the group with tightness. Dynamic balance as Conclusion- measured by star excursion balance test is better in subjects without hamstring tightness as compared to subjects with hamstring tightness.

ANÁLISE DAS CONDICIONANTES DE LESÕES ESPORTIVAS NA PRÁTICA DO VOLEIBOL FEMININO EM ATLETAS JOVENS

O voleibol é uma das modalidades esportivas mais praticadas no mundo. Acompanhado desta prática, está presente o risco de lesões musculoesqueléticas, especialmente nos membros inferiores. Tais lesões podem ser causadas por fatores intrínsecos ou extrínsecos. A proposta deste estudo, foi analisar as condicionantes intrínsecas estruturais, estáticas e dinâmicas das principais lesões esportivas envolvidas na prática junto a atletas de voleibol e a necessidade de propor ações preventivas de Fisioterapia Esportiva. Trata-se de um estudo observacional do tipo transversal, realizado com 34 atletas do sexo feminino, idade de 12,74 ± 1,16 anos, praticantes de voleibol há no mínimo um ano. Foi aplicado um questionário referente a informações antropométricas e queixas referente a dor e lesões das atletas, plantigrafia e os seguintes testes funcionais: Step Down Test, Star Excursion Balance Test, Balance Error Scoring System. A frequência de treinos era de 2 à 3 vezes por semana, tempo de prática ficou entre 1 a 4 anos envolvendo 85,3% das atletas. Em relação ao índice do arco plantar a maioria apresentou normal. O valgismo de joelho prevaleceu em grande parte das avaliadas. O segmento corporal com mais queixa de dor foi o joelho e lesões o tornozelo. O período de treinamento teve mais lesões do que em competição. Em relação aos achados da avaliação, é considerada necessária a adoção de medidas de prevenção, evitando agravos musculoesqueléticos nas praticantes de voleibol.

Short-Term Effects of Balance Training with Stroboscopic Vision for Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) is one of the most common musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Stroboscopic vision (SV) training has been deemed to enhance somatosensorial pathways in this population group; nevertheless, until recently no studies have addressed the additional effects of this treatment option to the traditional therapeutic approach. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of a partial visual deprivation training protocol in patients with CAI, a randomized controlled trial was carried out. Patients with CAI (n = 73) were randomized into either a balance training, SV training, or a control (no training) group. For participants assigned into training groups, they received 18 training sessions over 6 weeks. The primary outcome was dynamic balance as measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention. Secondary outcome measures included ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, self-reported instability feeling, and ankle functional status. Results: Better scores in stroboscopic training and balance training groups in all outcome measures were observed in comparison with the control group with moderate to large effect sizes. Stroboscopic training was more effective than neuromuscular training in self-reported instability feeling (cohen’s d = 0.71; p = 0.042) and anterior reach distance of the star excursion balance test (cohen’s d = 1.23; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Preliminary findings from the effects of SV Stroboscopic training in patients with CAI, suggest that SV may be beneficial in CAI rehabilitation.