Balance board vs balance ball: which one is superior in enhancing static and dynamic balance abilities on healthy university students

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two different unstable surfaces balance training on static and dynamic balance abilities.

Methods: The 52 healthy active university students were randomly divided into three groups: the training groups exercised on the firm (balance board) or soft ground (balance ball, BOSU®) for 16 min for 3 days per week for eight weeks, involving structured balance exercises. The control group did not perform the balance exercises in this process. All of the groups were tested static and dynamic balance tests by a computerized balance system before and after the training period. Tests were carried out using a single and double-leg stance either with the eyes open or closed.

Results: One-way and mixed-design analyses of variance tests indicated that significantly similar improvements were observed in the exercise groups’ static (ellipse area and perimeter length) and dynamic (stability index and average track error) balance (p <0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group in any of the variables tested at any point (p >0.05).

Conclusion: Finding shows that using balance board and balance ball as balance training intervention tools have similar effectiveness for static and dynamic balance enhancement in healthy active university students.

Keywords

• Balance training
• Bosu
• Perimeter length
• Unstable surface

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