The relationship between static and dynamic balance in active young adults

Purpose. The objectives were to analyse differences of static and dynamic balance between sexes and test the correlations between static and dynamic balance measures. Methods. The study involved 77 physically active adults, university students (age: 19.1 ± 1.1 years; height: 170.2 ± 9.2 cm; body mass: 64.1 ± 10.7 kg). Static balance was assessed with a force platform under Romberg conditions: a foam surface, eyes open (EOFS); eyes closed (ECFS); challenging the visual-vestibular system (CVVS). The Y balance Test (YbT) evaluated dynamic balance in anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. One-way ANOVA examined potential differences between sexes, and the Pearson product-moment test verified the correlations between YbT and static balance measures. Results. Sex differences were found for all conditions in static balance variables: ellipse area (EA), centre of pressure displacement anteroposterior (DAP) and mediolateral (DML), mean velocity anteroposterior (VAP) and mediolateral (VML), total mean velocity (TV). Females presented a better stability index than males for EOFS (25% DAP, 20% DML, 30% VAP, 21% VML, 19% TV), ECFS (26% DAP, 32% DML, 28% VAP, 32% VML, 32% TV), and CVVS (27% EA, 26% DAP, 19% DML, 17% VAP, 20% VML, 18% TV). Males demonstrated 6% better performance on YbT posterolateral. Correlation tests revealed small to moderate correlations between static and dynamic balance, except for a large positive correlation between YbT anterior and sway area under the CVVS condition [ r = 0.54 (0.19; 0.77)] for women. Conclusions. The findings indicate a weak relationship between static and dynamic balance in controlling posture.