Abstract

The number of people and the interest in participating sports and physical activity are increasing in the last few decades. However, this situation causes an increase in sports injuries, as well. Numerous studies exist investigating the leading factors of sports injuries. Proprioception is an important issue that worth to investigate in means of injury prevention.

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of strength and balance exercises on proprioception and postural control.

Sixty sedentary young males aged 18-25 who did not have any musculoskeletal lower extremity injury history were involved in this study. Isolated strength exercises, isolated balance exercise and strength + balance exercise were applied for 6 weeks. Isokinetic strength, balance and joint position sense (JPS) tests were performed before and after exercise programs. The obtained data were analysed statistically.

Significant differences were detected in active JPS tests in which the target angle was set to 60 degrees (p < 0.05). None of the groups revealed a significant difference at the test angle of 30 degrees of JPS tests (p > 0.05). The overall results showed that both isolated strength and combined strength-balance exercises were effective in improvement of proprioception.

Balance and strength exercises were both effective in improving proprioception. Therefore, both exercises are recommended to be added to sports specific training programs to decrease the prevalence of sports injuries.