Establishing static balance profiles using the Biodex Balance System in South African adults residing in the Johannesburg metropolitan area
- Authors: Ferreira, Simoné
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Equilibrium (Physiology) , Gender mainstreaming , Movement sequences
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/285739 , uj:30906
- Description: Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The ability to balance allows human beings to maintain positional equilibrium by coordinating internal and external forces applied to the body. Balance is a motor skill needed by all individuals and can be influenced by both age and gender. An inability to maintain balance, poses a risk of falling and injury. AIM: The aim of this study was to establish static balance profiles for adult men and women. METHODS: This study followed a quantitative descriptive and comparative cohort research design to establish and compare balance profiles for adult men and women. The population consisted of healthy adult men and women between the ages of 18 and 55 residing in the Johannesburg Metropolitan area. A total of 161 participants who volunteered passed the inclusion criteria. The Biodex Balance System was used to assess static balance, using four different balance protocols: Double-leg stable, double-leg unstable, single-leg stable left and right leg and single-leg unstable left and right leg. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric methods were used to analyse the data. All balance tests conducted using the unstable setting, was conducted at level 8. Balance data was reported using the overall stability index. The significance level of all the statistical tests was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The results of the current study showed that females performed significantly better than males in most of the balance tests performed. There was a significant difference in postural balance between the different age groups in the current study, and balance ability started to decline significantly after the age of 30. Although there were significant correlations between both stature and body weight, and balance ability, these correlations were low and they were poor predictors of balance ability. Thus, both gender and age had significant effects on balance ability in adults and these aspects should be taken into account when comparing test results of individual patients to that of norms and reference values. CONCLUSIONS: The current study’s main contribution was thus, to establish reference values for static balance in male and female adults (aged between 18 and 55 years) residing within the Johannesburg Metropolitan area. Future research may be performed in other regions of South Africa and on other age groups. , M.Phil. (Biokinetics)
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- Authors: Ferreira, Simoné
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Equilibrium (Physiology) , Gender mainstreaming , Movement sequences
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/285739 , uj:30906
- Description: Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The ability to balance allows human beings to maintain positional equilibrium by coordinating internal and external forces applied to the body. Balance is a motor skill needed by all individuals and can be influenced by both age and gender. An inability to maintain balance, poses a risk of falling and injury. AIM: The aim of this study was to establish static balance profiles for adult men and women. METHODS: This study followed a quantitative descriptive and comparative cohort research design to establish and compare balance profiles for adult men and women. The population consisted of healthy adult men and women between the ages of 18 and 55 residing in the Johannesburg Metropolitan area. A total of 161 participants who volunteered passed the inclusion criteria. The Biodex Balance System was used to assess static balance, using four different balance protocols: Double-leg stable, double-leg unstable, single-leg stable left and right leg and single-leg unstable left and right leg. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric methods were used to analyse the data. All balance tests conducted using the unstable setting, was conducted at level 8. Balance data was reported using the overall stability index. The significance level of all the statistical tests was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The results of the current study showed that females performed significantly better than males in most of the balance tests performed. There was a significant difference in postural balance between the different age groups in the current study, and balance ability started to decline significantly after the age of 30. Although there were significant correlations between both stature and body weight, and balance ability, these correlations were low and they were poor predictors of balance ability. Thus, both gender and age had significant effects on balance ability in adults and these aspects should be taken into account when comparing test results of individual patients to that of norms and reference values. CONCLUSIONS: The current study’s main contribution was thus, to establish reference values for static balance in male and female adults (aged between 18 and 55 years) residing within the Johannesburg Metropolitan area. Future research may be performed in other regions of South Africa and on other age groups. , M.Phil. (Biokinetics)
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The effect of cervical and lumbar chiropractic adjustments on the bi-lateral weight distribution through the lower limbs
- Authors: Lester, Rory Kayl
- Date: 2014-06-02
- Subjects: Chiropractic , Manipulation (Therapeutics) , Gait in humans , Equilibrium (Physiology)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10882
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , During gait the force transferred through the body is dived between the two lower limbs, according to Kaplan, Barak & Spiel (2012) this force should to be constant and equal with each gait cycle in an asymptomatic individual. In the presence of spinal dysfunction there is an alteration of sensory motor integration as a result of impaired proprioception (Taylor & Murphy, 2007), this altered proprioception may then produce a negative effect on the fore distribution during gait, resulting in abnormal biomechanics and an altered gait pattern. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to restore normal biomechanics to the spine and in so doing improve proprioception. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cervical and lumbar chiropractic adjustments on the force distribution through the lower limbs during gait. Method: Thirty participants between the ages of 18 and 45 were invited to participate in the study. The details of the study were fully explained to each participant, after which an informed consent form was signed, followed by a full physical examination to determine if the potential participant was eligible for inclusion in the study, and did not have any of the following exclusion criteria. Individuals suffering from any form of mechanical back pain, hip, knee and ankle pathologies, females, and individuals were manipulation was contra-indicated were excluded from the study. A full lumbar or cervical spine examination was then performed in order to test for joint dysfunction. The participants then underwent gait testing after which they then received either a cervical or lumbar spine adjustment to the dysfunctioning joint. Procedure: The participants received a total of seven chiropractic adjustments with the objective data being recorded on the first, fourth and seventh consultations. The objective data was captured with the Zebris FDM gait analysis system. The system consisted of a 3 meter long sensory platform that is built into the floor, the pressure platform was made up of multiple force sensors arranged in a matrix of columns and rows and was capable of measuring the exact force through each lower limb during gait. The recorded sensory information was transferred to the WinFDM program which then interpreted all the data.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lester, Rory Kayl
- Date: 2014-06-02
- Subjects: Chiropractic , Manipulation (Therapeutics) , Gait in humans , Equilibrium (Physiology)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11289 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10882
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , During gait the force transferred through the body is dived between the two lower limbs, according to Kaplan, Barak & Spiel (2012) this force should to be constant and equal with each gait cycle in an asymptomatic individual. In the presence of spinal dysfunction there is an alteration of sensory motor integration as a result of impaired proprioception (Taylor & Murphy, 2007), this altered proprioception may then produce a negative effect on the fore distribution during gait, resulting in abnormal biomechanics and an altered gait pattern. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to restore normal biomechanics to the spine and in so doing improve proprioception. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cervical and lumbar chiropractic adjustments on the force distribution through the lower limbs during gait. Method: Thirty participants between the ages of 18 and 45 were invited to participate in the study. The details of the study were fully explained to each participant, after which an informed consent form was signed, followed by a full physical examination to determine if the potential participant was eligible for inclusion in the study, and did not have any of the following exclusion criteria. Individuals suffering from any form of mechanical back pain, hip, knee and ankle pathologies, females, and individuals were manipulation was contra-indicated were excluded from the study. A full lumbar or cervical spine examination was then performed in order to test for joint dysfunction. The participants then underwent gait testing after which they then received either a cervical or lumbar spine adjustment to the dysfunctioning joint. Procedure: The participants received a total of seven chiropractic adjustments with the objective data being recorded on the first, fourth and seventh consultations. The objective data was captured with the Zebris FDM gait analysis system. The system consisted of a 3 meter long sensory platform that is built into the floor, the pressure platform was made up of multiple force sensors arranged in a matrix of columns and rows and was capable of measuring the exact force through each lower limb during gait. The recorded sensory information was transferred to the WinFDM program which then interpreted all the data.
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The effect of chiropractic manipulation combined with targeted exercises on balance
- Authors: Osler, Sarah Nomvula
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Chiropractic , Exercise therapy , Equilibrium (Physiology)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/226630 , uj:22920
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Abstract: Purpose: To determine the effect of chiropractic manipulation, combined with targeted exercises, on balance. Method: Thirty participants were divided into two groups of fifteen: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received chiropractic manipulation to restricted joints in the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints, as well as a 45-minute pilates-based targeted exercise class once per week for six weeks. The control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups had their balance assessed three times using the Biodex Balance System SD: once before the study started, for a second time halfway through the study (prior to treatment for the participants in the experimental group), and a final measurement when the trials had been completed. Results: With regards to the clinical analysis of the results, both the experimental and control groups showed an improvement in their balance performance, with a larger improvement occurring in the experimental group. The experimental group showed a progressive improvement from measurement to measurement, whereas the control group showed a dramatic improvement from the first to the second measurements, with the difference between the second to the third measurement ranging from a very small improvement to a worsened performance. When analysed individually, both groups showed significant improvement between measurements, with the experimental group showing more statistically significant readings. However, no statistically significant difference was found when comparing the scores of the two groups to one another. Conclusion: As there was no statistically significant difference between the performances of the two groups, no conclusion can be made as to whether or not the combination of targeted exercise classes and chiropractic manipulation has any effect on balance. The small sample size also does not allow a generalisation of these results to the broader public. However, it is possible that with certain methodological changes, significant results may be seen.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Osler, Sarah Nomvula
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Chiropractic , Exercise therapy , Equilibrium (Physiology)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/226630 , uj:22920
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Abstract: Purpose: To determine the effect of chiropractic manipulation, combined with targeted exercises, on balance. Method: Thirty participants were divided into two groups of fifteen: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received chiropractic manipulation to restricted joints in the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints, as well as a 45-minute pilates-based targeted exercise class once per week for six weeks. The control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups had their balance assessed three times using the Biodex Balance System SD: once before the study started, for a second time halfway through the study (prior to treatment for the participants in the experimental group), and a final measurement when the trials had been completed. Results: With regards to the clinical analysis of the results, both the experimental and control groups showed an improvement in their balance performance, with a larger improvement occurring in the experimental group. The experimental group showed a progressive improvement from measurement to measurement, whereas the control group showed a dramatic improvement from the first to the second measurements, with the difference between the second to the third measurement ranging from a very small improvement to a worsened performance. When analysed individually, both groups showed significant improvement between measurements, with the experimental group showing more statistically significant readings. However, no statistically significant difference was found when comparing the scores of the two groups to one another. Conclusion: As there was no statistically significant difference between the performances of the two groups, no conclusion can be made as to whether or not the combination of targeted exercise classes and chiropractic manipulation has any effect on balance. The small sample size also does not allow a generalisation of these results to the broader public. However, it is possible that with certain methodological changes, significant results may be seen.
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