The effects of strength, balance and combined (strength and balance) exercise programs on the dynamic balance of young male athletes

Introduction: It has been stated that adolescents are at greater risk of suffering sport injuries than younger children with peak injury rates occurring in the oldest adolescent age group. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of strength, balance and combined (strength and balance) exercise programs on the dynamic balance of young male athletes. Materials and Methods: Sixty 14-to-17-year-old young male athletes (mean weight 62.79 ± 3.62 kg; mean height 171.1 ± 4.46 cm) without any lower extremity injury, vestibular and/or visual problems voluntarily participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one the following groups: 1) Strength exercise, 2) Balance exercise, 3) Balance exercise and 4) control group. The SEBT test was used before and after exercise programs in order to test dynamic balance. Descriptive as well as statistical analysis including repeated measure tests, paired t test and ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test were conducted (P-value was set at 0.05). Results: The study results showed significant increase in reaching distance in all directions after strength, balance and combined (strength and balance) exercise programs. It was also shown that increase in reaching distance following combined exercises was more than that resulting either after the balance or after strength exercises individually (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that six weeks of balance training programs was able to produce a significant increase in dynamic balance in young male athletes. Because young male athletes are not initially able to stand pressure of exercise and special sport skills, it may be useful to trainers to provide their trainees with an adequate level of balance through combined exercises. Keywords: Strength, Balance, Dynamic balance, Male young athletes