Finding Their Balance: Effects of a 4-week Balance Training Program in Athletes and Non-Athletes
Loading...
Authors
Crowe, Alyssa
Medders, Charlie
Brown, Christine
Issue Date
2025-12
Type
Language
en_US
Keywords
Health Sciences; Medical Sciences
Alternative Title
Abstract
Athletes are generally considered to possess superior balance compared to the general population, due to sport-specific training adaptations; however, targeted balance training can enhance postural stability and neuromuscular control regardless of athletic status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a four-week balance training program on non-athlete college students in comparison to college club athletes. It was hypothesized that non-athlete participants would exhibit greater relative improvements in balance performance compared to club athletes, owing to lower baseline balance proficiency. Ten participants were recruited and divided into two groups: five non-athletes and five club athletes. Baseline balance performance was evaluated using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) on an AIREX foam pad and the Y-Balance Test (YBT). The intervention consisted of a four-week balance training program incorporating exercises such as single-leg and tandem stances on unstable surfaces, heel-to-toe walking, walking lunges, and bird dogs. A two-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the interaction effect between group (non-athletes vs. club athletes) and time (pre-intervention vs. post-intervention) on balance performance. The outcomes of this study deepen prior understanding of how athletic experience influences responsiveness to balance training and may inform balance program design across varying training levels.