Dynamic Balance is Similar Between Lower Extremities in Elite Fencers.
Nader Abdelkader, Stephen H M Brown, Tyson A C Beach and 1 others
PMID 34909249WHAT IT FOUND
In 14 healthy national-level fencers, dynamic balance reach distances did not differ between lead and trail legs.
Posterolateral and posteromedial reach distances were greater than in other collegiate athletes, but the main limb comparison found no difference.
Key findings
01The fencers' normalized reach distances did not differ between lead and trail legs.
02The study reported that fencers' posterolateral reach distances exceeded the ranges reported for collegiate athletes in other sports.
03The study reported that fencers' posteromedial reach distances appeared greater than those of collegiate athletes in basketball, golf, soccer, volleyball and football.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small and selected from available athletes, with only 14 healthy national-level fencers. The study did not analyze sex differences, partly because the sample size was limited by eligibility and recruitment. Current national ranking was not recorded; participants only needed to have been top-16 in the previous three seasons. The study did not measure movement patterns, forces, muscle size, or strength, so it cannot explain why the two limbs performed similarly. The comparison with collegiate athletes was a qualitative comparison using data from other studies, not a direct test.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the greater posterolateral and posteromedial reach distances as proof that fencers have superior balance or that fencing training caused it. The primary finding was no difference between lead and trail legs, the study included only 14 healthy fencers, and the secondary comparison was not a direct test against those athletes.