Temporal changes in postural control strategy through single-leg stance practice with active restriction of knee movement.
Kenichi Kobara, Manaka Kawaue, Saki Akai and 2 others
PMID 39092420WHAT IT FOUND
Two weeks of single-leg stance practice reduced balance sway in healthy young women, regardless of whether they actively restricted knee movement.
However, only the knee-restricted group showed a specific reduction in knee sway over time, while the other group saw changes in pelvic sway.
Key findings
01Both groups reduced center of pressure sway after training, but the active restriction group showed a significant decrease in total trajectory length while the unrestricted group did not.
02During practice sessions, the active restriction group showed a significant temporal decrease in knee sway, whereas the unrestricted group showed a significant decrease in pelvic sway.
03The study suggests that actively restricting knee oscillation may enhance ankle strategy, but the authors note this was tested in young females and cannot be directly applied to older adults.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The participants were healthy young adult females with superior physical fitness, so the results may not apply to older adults or those with balance impairments. The study did not include a control group that received no intervention, so it is unclear if the changes were due to the specific knee restriction or just general practice. The authors state that the mechanism behind the reduction in center of pressure sway is not fully elucidated and requires further investigation.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reduction in knee sway as proof that this specific training prevents falls in older adults. The study was conducted only on healthy young women, and the authors explicitly state that the results cannot be directly applied to older populations.