Stella Rokka

Effects of instructional and motivational self-talk on balance performance in knee injured

Abstract Aims: To examine the influence of motivational and instructional self-talk on balance test performance of knee injured active individuals with meniscectomy. Design: One between-groups factor with four levels (instructional, motivational, no self-talk, neutral self-talk) and one within-groups “time” factor with two levels (pre-test, post-test). Method: 35 men and 25 women physically active and knee injured following meniscectomy 6 months ago participated. After 2 days of familiarization, they completed four dynamic balance stability trials, spaced 3 min apart. After the first two trials (best value as pre-test score), the participants were randomly assigned to four groups: the motivational self-talk group, instructional self-talk group and control groups (no instruction and neutral self-talk). They repeated the two trials (best value as post-test score) expressing aloud the phrases assigned. Results: Analysis of variance repeated-measures and Sidak multiple comparisons tests were performed on the time variable to detect differences in each group for each time point (pre- and post-test). Statistical analysis showed that balance board time score increased significantly only for experimental groups after the intervention period and not for control groups, F(3,56) = 9.93, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.861 for time of keeping stability on the board. Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicate that injured active individuals with meniscectomy may enhance their balance test performance via the use of instructional and motivational self-talk.

UNILATERAL LOWER LIMBS STRENGTH TRAINING WITH THERA-BAND® ELASTIC RESISTANCE BANDS IMPROVES FUNCTIONAL ABILITY AND BALANCE OF THE UNTRAINED CONTRALATERAL LIMB

Background Cross-education (CE) is being studied for several decades and refers to the power transfer and proprioception in untrained limb after training of the homologous contralateral limb. Objective To examine whether unilateral strengthening of lower limbs with Thera-Band® elastic resistance bands is beneficial also for the untrained contralateral limb in functional ability and balance. Design A double blinding randomized prospective study. Setting The study was conducted in the Department of P.E and Sports, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. Participants 15 healthy physically active students (at least three training per week) were randomly selected to participate. Interventions The participants performed strength training with progressive overload for lower limbs, for 4 weeks, with frequency 3 times per week (12 sessions), duration of 30 minutes with 10 min warm up, 20 min strengthening exercises with Bands (Thera-Band®) of quadriceps, hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscles. The exercises were executed at stations from supine, lateral and sitting position (4 sets of 10 reps with 15 sec break between sets). Main outcome measurements A. Balance performance (total stability index as dependent variable of the Biodex Stability test) and b. functional ability (Single leg triple jump hop for distance with distance as dependent variable) at 3 times, before exercise period (pre), at the end (post) and 2 weeks after (retention). The hypothesis was formulated before data collection. Results One way repeated measures Anova revealed improvement for both limbs: a. Stability index trained pre 5.87±1.15, post 3.44±1.11, retention 3.61±1.12 untrained pre 5.90±1.82, post 3.61±1.61, retention 3.20±1.71 b. Triple jump trained pre 3.70±.89, post 4.06±.91, retention 4.01±.88, untrained pre 3.78±.83, post 4.09±.85, retention 4.12±.71. Conclusions Unilateral strength training with Thera-Band® elastic resistance bands at lower limbs is effective in improving functional ability and balance of untrained limb.