Article

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral balance
training on the reactive recovery of balance for both trained and untrained
limbs. Twenty-three subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group
(CG) or a training group (TG). The latter performed six weeks of balance training
for the right leg. The pre- and post-training measurements were based on single
leg standing posture on a moveable force platform which moved 6 cm anteriorly. TG
subjects were tested on the trained (TR) and untrained leg (UTR), whereas CG
subjects were tested on the right leg (CTR). The center of pressure trajectory
length (CPLEN) and average speed (CPSPD) as well as onsets of muscular activation
and time to peak (EMGTP) from lower limb muscles were calculated and compared by
a 2-way ANOVA (three legsxtwo training status). Muscular onsets were reduced
after training for TR ( approximately 19 ms, p<0.05) and UTR ( approximately 17
ms, p<0.05) with no significant changes for CTR. No effects of training for CPLEN
and medial-lateral CPSPD were found. Furthermore, the EMGTP of UTR was
predominantly greater before training ( approximately 17 ms, p<0.05). However,
after training the EMGTP was similar among limbs. These results suggest that
concomitant with improved balance recovery and neuromuscular reactions in TR,
there is also a cross-education effect in UTR, which might be predominantly
related to supraspinal adaptations shared between interconnected structures in
the brain.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS