Evidence supporting balance training in healthy individuals: a systemic review.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review of 16 intervention studies assessed for methodological quality via PEDro.
PubMed 19910803 · doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c1f7c5
What was done
Authors searched three electronic databases and reference lists to systematically review multisession balance training programs in healthy individuals. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted pre- and post-training balance measures, and assessed methodological study quality using the PEDro instrument.
What was found
Sixteen studies were included. The abstract reports no numerical effect sizes or confidence intervals. Balance training was reported to improve dynamic balance and static balance on both stable and unstable surfaces. Elite athletes improved in dynamic balance and static balance on unstable surfaces, but showed a ceiling effect for static balance on stable surfaces. Effective protocols generally involved tilt boards, unstable surfaces, or dynamic movements while maintaining static stance, performed for at least 10 minutes per day, 3 days per week, for 4 weeks.
Why it matters
It outlines minimal dosage parameters (10 minutes/day, 3 days/week, 4 weeks) for balance improvements in healthy populations and identifies potential ceiling effects in elite athletes on stable surfaces.
Limits
The abstract reports no numerical effect sizes, variance estimates, or aggregate PEDro quality scores. Total participant sample size, demographics, long-term retention of adaptations, and whether all included trials were randomized are not reported in the abstract.