THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTURAL BALANCE MEASUREMENTS DURING DIFFERENT STANDING BALANCE TESTS

Abstract

Aim. The paper aims to identify the relationship between postural balance measurements during different standing balance tests in healthy subjects. Materials and methods. Young healthy female subjects (18–21 years old, n = 80) participated in three single-leg balance tests of different complexity: 1) standing balance test on a motionless force platform (Neurocor Trast-M, Moscow) with eyes open (OE, 40 s) and closed (CE, 40 s); 2) standing balance test on a moving platform (H10 cm) with OE (40 s) and CE (40 s); 3) standing balance test on a high (H30 cm) platform with CE until balance loss. Speed-strength abilities of postural muscles were measured in the following functional tests: standing long jump, 12 m run. Results. Force platform measurements on the motionless (easy test) and moving (medium difficulty) platforms were associated with moderate strength (r = 0,42–0,76; p < 0.01). Speed-strength abilities did not correlate with dynamic postural balance on the moving platform. There were no correlations of balance time on the high platform (difficult test) with anthropometric factors, speed-strength abilities, and dynamic balance on the motionless platform. Correlations of balance time on the high platform were weak with postural balance measurements on the moving platform (r = 0.29–0.41; p < 0.05). Conclusion. Postural balance measurements obtained in the simple standing balance test cannot reliably predict the maximum balance abilities under difficult conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to use more complex conditions for postural balance measurements.