Technology and Health Care - Volume 28, issue 5

Authors: Domeika, Aurelijus | Slapšinskaitė, Agnė | Razon, Selen | Šiupšinskas, Laimonas | Klizienė, Irina | Dubosienė, Milda

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To avoid injuries in basketball players, they are recommended to pay more attention to improve their body balance. Therefore new training methods and equipment need to be devised. This study examined the effects of an 8-week basketball-specific proprioception training program while using a new developed one plane instability balance board during warm-up for improving balance ability in basketball players. Players who obtained basketball-specific balance training were compared to a control group. METHODS: Thirty-one male university basketball players (age: 21.35, SD = 0.605 years; height: 190.97, SD = 1.88; body mass: …86.95, SD = 2.61) participated in this study. Seventeen participants were assigned to the basketball-specific 8-week balance training group (BTG) while 14 participants served as a control group (CG). Both groups were tested with the Y balance test (YBT) and postural stability test (PST) at baseline and 8 weeks later. RESULTS: The results indicate significant improvements in the overall YBT for both legs in BTG, but not in CG. However, no group differences were found for dynamic balance performance, but static balance (i.e., postural stability) differed between groups after 8 weeks. A statistically significant moderate inverse correlation was computed between the total score of YBT and the total score of the overall stability index (r = - 0.404; p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: An 8-week basketball-specific proprioception training program with a single-plane instability balance platform improved balance ability (Y balance test and postural stability test) of basketball players. Show more

Keywords: Balance, exercise, basketball, proprioceptive, training, Y balance test

DOI: 10.3233/THC-208002

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 561-571, 2020

Authors: Daunoraviciene, Kristina | Ziziene, Jurgita | Ovcinikova, Agne | Kizlaitiene, Rasa | Griskevicius, Julius

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A lack of movement coordination characterized by the undershoot or overshoot of the intended location with the hand, arm, or leg is often found in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Standardized as Finger-to-Nose (FNT) and The Heel-to-Shin (HST) tests are the most frequently used tests for qualitative examination of upper and lower body coordination. Inertial sensors facilitate in performing quantitative motion analysis and by estimating body symmetry more accurately assess coordination lesion and imbalance. OBJECTIVES: To assess the body symmetry of upper and lower limbs quantitatively, and to find the best body symmetry indices to …discriminate MS from healthy individuals (CO). METHODS: 28 MS patients and 23 CO participated in the study. Spatiotemporal parameters obtained from six Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) were placed on the upper and lower extremities during FNT and HST tests. All data were analyzed using statistical methods in MATLAB. RESULTS: Asymmetry indices of temporal parameters showed a significant increase in upper body and lower body asymmetry of MS compared to CO. However, CO have a greater kinematic asymmetry compared to MS. CONCLUSION: Temporal parameters are the most sensitive to body asymmetry evaluation. However, range of motion is completely inappropriate if it is calculated for one movement cycle. Show more

Keywords: Body symmetry, damaged limb asymmetry, symmetry index, multiple sclerosis, inertial sensors

DOI: 10.3233/THC-208003

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 573-584, 2020

Article Type: Other

DOI: 10.3233/THC-209060

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 585-, 2020