| The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between
unilateral squat strength and measures of static balance to compare
balance performance between the dominant and non-dominant leg. Seventeen
apparently healthy men (mean mass 90.5 ± 20.9 kg and age 21.7
± 1.8 yrs) and 25 women (mean mass 62.2 ± 14.5 kg and
age 21.9 ± 1.3 yrs) completed the study. Weight bearing unilateral
strength was measured with a 1RM modified unilateral squat on the
dominant and non-dominant leg. The students completed the stork stand
and wobble board tests to determine static balance on the dominant
and non-dominant leg. Maximum time maintained in the stork stand position,
on the ball of the foot with the uninvolved foot against the involved
knee with hands on the hips, was recorded. Balance was measured with
a 15 second wobble board test. No significant correlations were found
between the measurements of unilateral balance and strength (r values
ranged between -0.05 to 0.2) for the men and women. Time off balance
was not significantly different between the subjects' dominant (men
1.1 ± 0.4 s; women 0.3 ± 0.1 s) and non-dominant (men
0.9 ± 0.3 s; women 0.3 ± 0.1 s) leg for the wobble board.
Similar results were found for the time balanced during the stork
stand test on the dominant (men 26.4 ± 6.3 s; women 24.1 ±
5.6 s) and non-dominant (men 26.0 ± 5.7 s; women 21.3 ±
4.1 s) leg. The data indicate that static balance and strength is
unrelated in young adult men and women and gains made in one variable
after training may not be associated with a change in performance
of the other variable. These results also suggest that differences
in static balance performance between legs can not be determined by
leg dominance. Similar research is needed to compare contralateral
leg balance in populations who participate in work or sport activities
requiring repetitive asymmetrical use. A better understanding of contralateral
balance performance will help practitioners make evaluative decisions
during the rehabilitation process.
KEY
WORDS: Single-leg strength, closed kinetic chain, unilateral
balance, resistance exercise.
|
