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Category: Project

Description: Background: Balance and resistance training applied as single-mode interventions have proven to enhance measures of balance and/or muscular fitness in youth. Less is known on the effectiveness of combined balance and resistance training in youth. Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to describe the effects of concurrently performed balance and resistance training (i.e., metastable resistance training) and different sequencing schemes of balance and resistance training on measures of balance and/or muscular fitness in healthy youth. We additionally aim to identify gaps in the literature which may help to design future research and allow the computation of subsequent meta-analyses. Design: Scoping review Methods: According to the principles of a scoping review, the methodological approach was broad, gaps in the literature were identified, and exercise effectiveness was reported on the level of single studies but not aggregated across studies (meta-analyzed). Systematic literature searches were conducted in the electronic databases PubMed (including MEDLINE), Web of Science and SPORTDiscus from inception until August 2022. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the risk of bias. Certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Results: Eleven studies were eligible to be included in this scoping review with a median PEDro score of 6. Four studies examined the effects of metastable resistance training (e.g., plyometric training on unstable surfaces) on measures of balance and/or muscle strength in youth athletes. The remaining 7 studies investigated the impact of combined balance and resistance training (e.g., blocked balance training followed by blocked resistance training) on measures of balance and/or strength in youth. The intervention programs ranged between 6 and 10 weeks with 2 to 3 sessions per week. Participants’ age range was 10 to 18 years. Ten studies examined young male and female athletes from different sports (i.e., basketball, handball, soccer) and one study physical education students. Metastable resistance training compared with plyometric training performed on stable surfaces showed no extra effect on measures of balance and muscular fitness. Stable plyometric training is even more effective to improve jump performance. A mesocycle of balance followed by plyometric training appears to be particularly effective to improve measures of balance and muscular fitness in youth athletes. Conclusion: According to the results of this scoping review, balance training should be an essential training component for youth that is incorporated with the resistance training exercises or introduced at least a month before resistance and plyometric training within a periodized training program.