Supervisors info:
Ρουσάνογλου Ελισσάβετ, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Σχολή Επιστήμης Φυσικής Αγωγής και Αθλητισμού, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Summary:
Introduction. Musical acoustic stimulus (MAS) affects structures of the somatosensory and neural systems which are associated with equilibrium ability (Peretz & Zatorre, 2005). It seems that it has a positive effect on quiet static balance (Ross, et al., 2016) with a lack of data regarding to dynamic or semi-dynamic balance. MAS that predisposes to musical entrainment can potentially favor balance ability, compared to the one that does not predispose to musical entrainment (Thaut, et al., 2015). The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of MAS with a different predisposition to musical entrainment in semi-dynamic balance.
Method. Eight soccer athletes (22 ± 1.1 years, 179 ± 4.1cm, 72.7 ± 7.6kg) participated in the study. The selection criterion of the athletic specialization was based upon the requirement for single-legged semi dynamic balance that characterizes the soccer kick. A modified version of Star Excursion Balance Test was used as a semi-dynamic balance test (Hertel, et al., 2006). Of all eight directions, only three were applied (Anteromedial, Medial, Posteromedial) because they are considered to be more sensitive for the detection of balance deficits (Hertel, et al., 2006). The test was conducted with the dominant and non-dominant lower limb in 3 MAS conditions: a) without MAS, b) MAS that predisposes to musical entrainment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z5EjAmZS1o ) and c) MAS that does not predispose to musical entrainment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYoqCJNPxv4). The effect of MAS was tested with repeated measures One Way ANOVA, separately in the dominant and the non-dominant lower limb. The significance of the difference between the dominant and the non-dominant lower limb was tested with pairwise comparisons, separately in each of the three directions. The level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 (SPSS 22.0).
Results. No statistically significant difference was found between the 3 MAS conditions (p> 0.05), both in the dominant and the non-dominant lower limbs. The difference between the dominant and the non-dominant lower limb was not statistically significant (p> 0.05).
Conclusions. The absence of a statistically significant difference between the MAS conditions is inconsistent with current studies that report a positive effect of MAS on balance ability in quiet standing (Ross, et al., 2016). The results may be related to a different mechanism of static and semi-dynamic balance control, as well as, the possibility that the selected semi-dynamic balance test is not sensitive to the MAS effect on healthy and physically active individuals.
Keywords:
musical acoustic stimulus, musical entrainment, semi-dynamic balance, star excursion balance test, soccer
