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Table 2 Effects of balance training using a high versus low level of task difficulty on measures of balance in youth

From: Effects of balance training on balance performance in youth: role of training difficulty

Variables

BT-low (n = 19)

BT-high (n = 19)

p-value (Cohen’s d)

Pre

Post

∆%a

Pre

Post

∆%a

Test

Test x Group

Group

Static balance

 OLS time; EO, FI [s]

44.8 ± 19.8

58.7 ± 10.3

+ 31

50.4 ± 16.1

54.9 ± 13.9

+ 9

.001 (1.22)

.078 (0.61)

.798 (0.09)

 OLS time; EC, FI [s]

13.4 ± 11.7

30.0 ± 17.8

+ 124

23.7 ± 19.2

40.8 ± 20.8

+ 72

<.001 (1.83)

.935 (0.04)

.037 (0.72)

 OLS time; EO, FO [s]

23.7 ± 18.5

49.6 ± 17.5

+ 109

31.1 ± 21.6

49.4 ± 17.4

+ 59

<.001 (2.03)

.301 (0.35)

.466 (0.25)

Dynamic balance

 Gait velocity [m/s]

1.63 ± 0.26

1.66 ± 0.22

+ 2

1.71 ± 0.28

1.69 ± 0.20

−1

.909 (0.05)

.387 (0.29)

.461 (0.25)

Proactive balance

 AT [% LL]

69.8 ± 9.2

73.2 ± 9.7

+ 5

71.6 ± 10.4

78.1 ± 11.1

+ 9

<.001 (1.96)

.074 (0.61)

.301 (0.35)

 PM [% LL]

110.3 ± 9.6

112.5 ± 7.7

+ 2

109.6 ± 13.9

114.9 ± 10.8

+ 5

.001 (1.26)

.125 (0.52)

.802 (0.09)

 PL [% LL]

104.4 ± 11.1

109.1 ± 7.4

+ 5

107.9 ± 12.8

113.1 ± 10.6

+ 5

<.001 (1.51)

.829 (0.06)

.253 (0.39)

 CS [% LL]

94.9 ± 8.7

98.3 ± 7.0

+ 4

96.4 ± 11.1

102.1 ± 9.2

+ 6

<.001 (2.15)

.110 (0.54)

.356 (0.31)

 FRT [cm]

42.7 ± 7.2

43.6 ± 6.4

+ 2

42.4 ± 9.6

45.7 ± 9.2

+ 8

<.001 (1.57)

.014 (0.87)

.742 (0.11)

 TUG [s]

5.2 ± 0.4

5.0 ± 0.5

+ 4

5.3 ± 0.7

5.2 ± 0.5

+ 2

.098 (0.57)

.701 (0.13)

.521 (0.22)

  1. Values are mean values ± standard deviations. Figures in brackets are effect sizes (Cohen’s d) with 0 ≤ d ≤ 0.49 indicating small, 0.50 ≤ d ≤ 0.79 medium, and d ≥ 0.80 large effects. aA positive/negative percentage value indicates a performance improvement/decrement. AT Anterior, BT-low Balance training using a low level of task difficulty, BT-high Balance training using a high level of task difficulty, CS Composite score, EC Eyes closed, EO Eyes opened, FI Firm ground, FO Foam ground, FRT Functional Reach Test, LL Leg length, OLS One-legged stance, PL Posterolateral, PM Posteromedial, TUG Timed-Up-and-Go Test