Cardiorespiratory and Emotional Responses During Balance Exercises.

Purpose: Physical exercises on unstable surfaces have been largely applied for clinical practice as well as in sports training. Although the unsteadiness can lead to physiological and psychological adaptations, little is known about the autonomic and emotional acute responses during the practice of balance exercises. This study aimed to evaluate both cardiorespiratory and emotional responses while standing on different unstable surfaces. Methods: Eighty-eight healthy participants performed postural balance tasks in three experimental conditions: (1) a rigid surface (control); (2) balance pad; and (3) the Both Sides Up (BOSU) ball. Respiratory activity was recorded through the thoracic movement and the heart rate variability by the electrocardiographic signal during the balance tasks. After the participants evaluated the level of perceived stability and emotional aspects related to each experimental condition. Results: The main results showed that BOSU condition was perceived as more unstable, unpleasant, with higher arousal and lower dominance levels (p < .05). Accordingly, participants had also an increase in the mean respiratory frequency and heart rate (p < .05). Conclusion: These results showed that the postural task with greater instability prompted congruent physiological adjustments to ensure the homeostasis in the more challenging condition. Therefore, the cardiorespiratory and emotional responses should be considered to ensure the safety and benefits in rehabilitation programs in which the exercise progression is based on unstable surfaces.

What we know so far about postural balance training: An exploratory scoping review of nomenclature and related issues.

BACKGROUND: Different terms are used to refer to postural balance training, but the ontological debate involving the concepts to pursue nomenclature consensus is unusual. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to analyze how often the terms balance, neuromuscular, proprioceptive, functional and sensorimotor training/exercise are used in the literature, and to propose a conceptual critical appraisal to determine the most appropriate terminology to address postural balance exercises. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the Scopus electronic database. Eligibility criteria: papers with the selected expressions on the title or keywords, published in English, were included. RESULTS: The most used term was balance training (471 of 1105 included papers). Europe, followed by Asia and North America, had the highest number of publications. In the 21st century, the number of publications increased considerably. However, the terms have conceptual differences and controversies regarding its use. CONCLUSION: Despite a large variety of exercise types and divergences, balance training seems to be the most suitable term, given it refers to postural equilibrium exercises.

Ajustes cinemáticos do complexo articular do tornozelo sobre diferentes superfícies instáveis / Kinematic adjustments of the ankle joint complex on different unstable surfaces

INTRODUÇÃO: Poucos estudos discutem as reações corporais de indivíduos saudáveis no momento em que os exercícios em superfícies instáveis estão sendo executados, embora os efeitos do treinamento ­ efeitos crônicos do exercício- sejam bastante estudados. OBJETIVO: Descrever a cinemática articular do tornozelo e retropé durante essa interação. MÉTODOS: Dezoito voluntários participaram do estudo. A posição articular da região do tornozelo foi estudada em três superfícies: Airex® Balance-pad, BOSU® e chão (controle). Para análise estatística, utilizou-se ANOVA e Pós-teste de Tuckey, considerando um nível de significância menor que 0,05. RESULTADOS: A posição articular da região tornozelo no plano sagital foi diferente no BOSU® em relação ao Airex® (p < 0.001) e ao chão (p < 0.001). O tornozelo ficou em posição mais próxima à neutra no AIREX® e no chão. Com o BOSU, a dorsiflexão foi acentuada. Não houve diferença da posição média no no plano frontal. A variabilidade da posição da região do tornozelo foi maior no BOSU® que no Airex® (p < 0.001) e no chão (p < 0.001), tanto no plano sagital, quanto no plano frontal. A frequência média de deslocamento da posição articular na região do tornozelo no plano sagital foi maior no BOSU® que no chão (p < 0.001); e no plano frontal, para o retropé, foi maior no BOSU® que no Airex® (p < 0.001) e chão (p < 0.001). CONCLUSÃO: Houve diferença no comportamento articular da região do tornozelo na condição BOSU® em relação às demais nas superfícies utilizadas, havendo um aumento das oscilações articulares no processo de controle postural em condições mais instáveis e maior dosiflexão no BOSU®. [AU]

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies approaching the bodily reactions of healthy individuals while performing exercises on unstable surfaces, although the training effects ­ exercise chronic effects - are well studied. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to describe the ankle and rear foot region osteoarticular kinematic during this interaction. METHODS: Eighteen volunteers participated in the study. The ankle region osteoarticular displacement was studied in three different surfaces: AIREX® Balance-pad, BOSU® and Ground (control). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Tukey test, considering a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The position of the ankle joint in the sagittal plane was greater in the BOSU® than in the AIREX® (p < 0.001) and ground (p < 0.001). The ankle was close to the neutral position in the AIREX® and on the ground. With BOSU, the dorsiflexion was accentuated. Considering the frontal plane, there was no difference in the rear foot position. Moreover, the variability in the ankle region position in sagittal and frontal planes was higher in BOSU® than AIREX® (p < 0.001) and ground (p < 0.001). The mean frequency of the ankle position in the sagittal plane was greater in the BOSU® than on the ground (p < 0.001), and, in frontal plane, the rear foot frequency displacement was largest in the BOSU® than in the AIREX® (p < 0.001) and on the ground (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There were observed differences in ankle region postural control strategies in the BOSU® condition when compared with the other surfaces tested. The ankle and rear foot oscillations increase and there is a greater dorsiflexion for the postural control under the most unstable condition - BOSU. [AU]