Devices and tasks involved in the objective assessment of standing dynamic balancing – A systematic literature review

Abstract

BackgroundStatic balancing assessment is often complemented with dynamic balancing tasks. Numerous dynamic balancing assessment methods have been developed in recent decades with their corresponding balancing devices and tasks.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic literature review is to identify and categorize existing objective methods of standing dynamic balancing ability assessment with an emphasis on the balancing devices and tasks being used.Data SourcesThree major scientific literature databases (Science Direct, Web of Science, PLoS ONE) and additional sources were used.Study selectionStudies had to use a dynamic balancing device and a task described in detail. Evaluation had to be based on objectively measureable parameters. Functional tests without instrumentation evaluated exclusively by a clinician were excluded. A total of 63 articles were included.Data extractionThe data extracted during full-text assessment were: author and date; the balancing device with the balancing task and the measured parameters; the health conditions, size, age and sex of participant groups; and follow-up measurements.Data synthesisA variety of dynamic balancing assessment devices were identified and categorized as 1) Solid ground, 2) Balance board, 3) Rotating platform, 4) Horizontal translational platform, 5) Treadmill, 6) Computerized Dynamic Posturography, and 7) Other devices. The group discrimination ability of the methods was explored and the conclusions of the studies were briefly summarized.LimitationsDue to the wide scope of this search, it provides an overview of balancing devices and do not represent the state-of-the-art of any single method.ConclusionsThe identified dynamic balancing assessment methods are offered as a catalogue of candidate methods to complement static assessments used in studies involving postural control.

Effects of wobble board training on single‐leg landing neuromechanics

“…It is believed that motor coordination is a key factor for injury prevention, as the gains in intermuscular coordination for landing may potentially reduce the likelihood of lower limb injuries. Wobble boards are simple and low‐cost devices widely used to investigate and improve balance and postural control . Previous studies have shown that such devices can provide fast improvement in balance performance with a long‐term retention, ultimately reducing the risk of ankle sprains by up to 50% .…”

Balance control of the orthostatic body pose in physical education of students

“…Despite of many publications on the problem of balancing of the human body standing position, this problem was not investigated in a full measure. Petro et al undertook a systematic literature review to identify and categorize existing objective methods of standing dynamic balancing ability assessment with an emphasis on the balancing devices and tasks [21]. Three major scientific literature databases (Science Direct, Web of Science, PLoS ONE) and additional sources were used.…”

Assessing age-related balance deterioration: Visual or mechanical tasks?

“…Other age-related factors such as attention switching delays and cognitive decline, may also explain the significantly lower gains and larger phase-shifts in the older than the young adults, especially in the unpredictable tracking tasks (Cofré Lizama et al, 2013;Cofré Lizama et al, 2014). Few studies have used surface perturbations to assess balance control in older adults and most of them have used discrete and not continuous perturbations as in the mechanical MELBA (Petro et al, 2017). Furthermore, few studies have used tracking tasks, mechanical or visual, to determine age-related balance changes (Arvin et al, 2016;Cofré Lizama et al, 2014;Sotirakis et al, 2016).…”