EFFECT OF PERFORMANCE JEWLERY ON BALANCE OF ELITE AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALLERS AND HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test efficacy of a wrist band to improve static balance in an unstable environment using elite Australian Rules Football (AFL) players and healthy young adults. Thirty-five healthy young adults (AFL n=15, Female n=12, male n=8) were exposed to various static balance tasks using the Biodex Balance System®. The participants’ ability to maintain static balance was quantified in degrees of deviation from stability for the left and right limb; following a random allocation to three conditions of testing (1) use of a Power Balance® wrist band, (2) a placebo wrist band, and, (3) a control condition. There was no effect of wrist band on static balance within and across the participants (p >0.05). The results of this study do not support efficacy of the Power Balance® wrist band to acutely improve balance of healthy young adults.