Advanced Balance Training
Balance training is an important component of rehabilitation after injury, as well as for injury prevention. Balance training, as a part of a multifaceted intervention, has been shown to improve joint stability, restore proper neuromuscular control, and significantly reduce the risk of sports injuries.
There are many ways to incorporate balance training into your rehabilitation protocol. The specific parameters of your intervention will depend on the individual patient’s injury severity, history of concomitant and/or past injuries, demands of their sport/activity, and physical conditioning, among other factors.
Examples of basic balance progressions include:
- Double limb → Single limb
- Stable surface → Unstable surface
- Eyes open → Eye closed
- Reactive balance/perturbation training
In the video below we demonstrate examples of advanced balance training, including single limb, unstable balance, and reactive balance exercises.
If you are recovering from a lower extremity injury or are interested in incorporating balance training as part of injury prevention, please contact us today for an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
References:
Martin RL, et. al. Ankle Stability and Movement Coordination Impairments: Lateral Ankle Ligament Sprains Revision 2021. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021;51(4).
Mandelbaum BR. Effectiveness of a neuromuscular and proprioceptive training program in preventing anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes: 2 year follow up. Am J Sports Med. 2005 Jul;33(7):1003-10.