Effects of the Proprioceptive Exercises on Isokinetic Strength and Postural Control

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of lower extremity proprioceptive training on postural control and strength of the knee and ankle muscles. METHOD: Twenty-two healthy subjects (age 27+/-4 yrs) were randomly assigned to a training (TRN, n=11) or a control (CTL, n=11) group. TRN group participated in the dominant leg proprioceptive training that was performed on a balance board and mini-trampoline without strength training for 6 weeks. All subjects were evaluated for leg muscle strength and postural sway using the isokinetic device and force platform before and after the training. Assessed parameters were 1) concentric and eccentric strength of knee flexor/ extensor and concentric strength of ankle plantar flexor/dorsiflexor and invertor/evertor 2) the standard deviation of the postural sway with eyes open or closed. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements in both medial-lateral and anterior-posterior parameters of postural sway with eyes closed were observed after training in TRN group (p < 0.05) compared to CTL group. But no significant changes in any isokinetic strength parameters were observed after training in TRN group. CONCLUSION: The proprioceptive exercises that we used could improve one-leg balance without significant strength gain after 6 weeks training.