The Impact of Instability Resistance Training on Balance and Stability

Abstract

The most predominant literature regarding balance has emphasised the physiological mechanisms controlling stability. Topics range from extrinsic factors (environment) to intrinsic factors (i.e. muscle coordination, vestibular response). Balance is achieved through an interaction of central anticipatory and reflexive actions as well as the active and passive restraints imposed by the muscular system. However, less research has attempted to document the effects of balance on performance measures (i.e. force, power). Furthermore, short- and long-term adaptations to unstable environments need more substantial research. While force and other performance measures can be adversely affected by a lack of balance, the transferability of instability training to activities of daily living and sport is not precisely known. The applicability of instability and resistance training using unstable platforms or implements may have strong relevance in a rehabilitative or athletic setting. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the literature in this area may possibly be of benefit to practitioners who deal with the general population, athletes or persons debilitated by balance and/or stability disabilities.

Equilíbrio, coordenação e agilidade de idosos submetidos à prática de exercícios físicos resistidos

“…Estes resultados vão de encontro aos apresentados por Rubenstein et al (16) , bem como os de outros autores, os quais relataram uma melhora da resistência muscular e da funcionalidade nos homens idosos após um programa simples de exercícios de resistência progressiva, de caminhada e de treino de equilíbrio (17)(18)(19)(20) . Todos estes resultados, ora mencionados, são finalizações clinicas importantes para uma população com deficiências motoras, porque mesmo que as melhorias da resistência, da força e da mobilidade sejam mínimas, elas têm impactos para que o indivíduo continue sem depender de terceiros.…”

Comparision of dynamic and static balance in adolescents handball and soccer players

“…Sport training can improve sensorimotor performance and postural control (1,44) and may cause different balance abilities and these differences could be objectively measured using Center of Pressure Measurements (C.o.P) (19). In short, there are findings that prove the effect of changings both on motor system and sensory system to balance performance.…”

Influence of Leg Dominance on Single-Leg Stance Performance During Dynamic Conditions: An Investigation into the Validity of Symmetry Hypothesis for Dynamic Postural Control in Healthy Individuals

“…Unlike quiet standing conditions, most of the daily life activities are performed in constantly changing environmental contexts and require instant biomechanical adaptations. Dynamic balance tasks, therefore, have been increasingly recommended recently to monitor functional recovery after injury, since they are believed to reflect the underlying mechanism of postural control strategies utilized in daily life activities (15,16). Hatzitaki et al (17), for example, have shown that balance performance under quiet standing tasks is mostly related to perceiving and processing visual inputs, whereas maintaining balance under dynamically demanding tasks depends highly on rapid processing of somatosensory afferences and initiation of corrective motor responses.…”