Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of walking on a balance beam as the simple evaluation method of dynamic balance. In healthy female subjects, body sway in static standing, weight shift in the Cross Test, lower extremity muscle strength, flexibility and walking time on a balance beam were measured. The multiple regression analysis with an objective variable of walking time on a balance beam revealed that a significant explanatory variable was body sway during single-limb standing with the eyes open. The multiple regression analysis with an objective variable of static balance indicated that significant explanatory variables were lower extremity muscle strength and flexibility, not walking time on a balance beam. These suggest that walking on a balance beam may be an index of dynamic balance, not static balance. It is also suggested that lower extremity muscle strength may play an important role in static balance not only in the elderly but also in healthy subjects.
