Evaluation of Voluntary Dynamic Balance through Standardized Squat-Lift Movements: A Comparison between Gymnasts and Athletes from Other Sports

Abstract

In the quotidian, people perform voluntary whole-body movements requiring dynamic body balance. However, the literature is scarce of dynamic balance evaluations employing standardized voluntary movements. In this investigation, we aimed to analyze the sensitivity of balance evaluation between gymnasts and athletes from other sports in the performance of balance tasks. Participants were evaluated in upright quiet standing and the performance of cyclic dynamic tasks of hip flexion-extension and squat-lift movements. Movements were individually standardized in amplitude, while the rhythm was externally paced at the frequency of 0.5 Hz. Tasks were performed on a force plate, with dynamic balance measured through the center of pressure displacement. Results showed that in quiet standing and the dynamic hip flexion-extension task, no significant differences were found between the groups. Conversely, results for the squat-lift task revealed a better balance of the gymnasts over controls, as indicated by the reduced amplitude and velocity of the center of pressure displacement during the task execution. The superior balance performance of gymnasts in the squat-lift task was also observed when vision was suppressed. These findings suggest the employed squat-lift task protocol is a potentially sensitive procedure for the evaluation of voluntary dynamic balance.