Acute effect of eccentric knee exercises on dynamic balance among athletes and non-athletes

Abstract

Purpose: Eccentric exercises may cause fatigue. Fatigue in lower body causes decline in dynamic balance which may cause injury. The purpose of the study was to examine the changes in dynamic balance before and after an acute bout of eccentric exercise using Y-balance test (lower quarter) among athletes and nonathletes and to find injury risk by change in balance. Materials and Methods: This study investigated 39 subjects which were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 19) athletes (mean age, 21.89 ± 2.62 years; height, 2.96 ± 0.25 m; mass, 66.52 ± 10.05 kg) and Group 2 (n = 20) nonathletes (mean age, 23.95 ± 1.73; height, 2.77 ± 0.30 m; mass, 60.12 ± 8.25 kg). Before and after acute bout of eccentric exercise, all subjects underwent an assessment for dynamic balance using Y-balance test-lower quarter. Results: After an acute bout of eccentric knee exercises, dynamic balance was not reduced significantly (P > 0.05) in Group 1 (athletes) as well as in Group 2 (nonathletes). Conclusion: In the current study by performing eccentric knee exercises, dynamic balance was not reduced in both the groups. Therefore, these eccentric knee exercises can be done by both the groups without risk of getting injured.