PICO
Patient/Population
Young female college athletes (n=200)
Intervention
- Plyometrics + Balance exercises
Comparison
- Plyometrics exercises
- Balance exercises
- No intervention (passive control group)
Outcomes
Dynamic balance
Translatability: (3/3) Easy
Comments: Combining plyometrics and balance exercises significantly increases the dynamic balance performance post-intervention compared to the control group.
Limitations: Testing does not mimic the actual dynamic balance required on the field of play; only young female athletes without a history of lower extremity injury were included; only the limits of stability were measured without considering the possible changes in the hip, knee, ankle joints range of motion and muscular flexibility and strength of the lower extremity muscles.
Appraisals:
PEDro Scale – (9/10) Blind therapists: No. (by PEDro – confirmed)
Trustworthiness – The study contains no serious weaknesses. Based on this result you should conclude that the trustworthiness of the study is high (90%). This means there is a 10% chance that alternative explanations for the effect found are possible. The effect size was medium and 95% CI was OK. (by CAT)
BTB
Intervention – 1
- Balance
Dose
- 2 sets with 5 repetitions for 30 seconds, with a 1 minute rest.
- 5 -10 minutes before the training session, with 1-3 minutes rest between the exercise, at least.
Periodicity
- 2 times a week for 6 weeks
Local/Technic:
Single-leg stance while holding a ball and progressed to throwing the ball to a partner and balancing with a partner to challenge dynamic balance control.
Each exercise program was executed on each leg and included several variations.
Intervention – 2
- Plyometrics
Dose
- 2 sets with 5 repetitions for 30 seconds, with a 1 minute rest.
- 5 -10 minutes before the training session, with 1-3 minutes rest between the exercise, at least.
Periodicity
- 2 times a week for 6 weeks
Local/Technic:
The plyometrics exercise program included vertical jumps, lateral jumps, and box jumps as gradual progressions to increase the difficulty.
Each exercise program was executed on each leg and included several variations.
Citation: Al Attar, W., & Husain, M. A. (2021). The effect of combining plyometrics exercises and balance exercises in improving dynamic balance among female college athletes: A randomized controlled trial. PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation, 10.1002/pmrj.12690. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12690