•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 4, 2022. Single-leg balance control is very important in injury prevention (such as reducing the chance of falls and ankle sprains) and sport performance. Although compression garments (CGs) have been used for various purposes, it is unclear if wearing CGs can improve single-leg balance in healthy individuals. The purpose of the study was to examine if wearing CGs (pants) could enhance single-leg balance, and to compare the impact of wearing CGs on single-leg balance between conditions with and without extrinsic visual feedback. Twenty-five healthy individuals (aged 20-30 years) participated in the study. The Athletic Single-Leg Stability Test (ASLST) of the Biodex Balance System (BBS) was used to examine single-leg balance. Subjects were given new CGs with the proper size that covered the area from above ankle to the waist. For the condition without extrinsic visual feedback, subjects’ eyes remained open but a large white board was used to cover the screen of the BBS. Subjects performed a combination of 4 testing protocols in a random order. Significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all comparisons. Subjects demonstrated better single-leg balance when wearing CGs than without wearing CGs (p = 0.035). In addition, eliminating extrinsic visual feedback greatly worsened single-leg balance (p = 0.000). However, no significant interaction was observed between the two variables (p = 0.361). This study shows what wearing CGs enhanced single-leg balance and eliminating extrinsic visual feedback hampered single-leg balance in healthy individuals. Clinicians may consider suggesting their clients to wear CGs to improve balance control, therefore reducing the chance of injures and enhancing sport performance. Clinicians can also provide extrinsic visual feedback to enhance safety and speed up the motor learning process at early stages of balance training. In addition, minimizing extrinsic visual feedback to mimic functional settings and provide greater challenges should also be considered for higher level clients.

Download


Share

COinS