Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Purpose:
Flat feet is a common condition that affects the balance of children and adolescents. This study aimed to compare the effects of comprehensive corrective exercises and Xbox Kinect exercises on static and dynamic balance in adolescent girls between 10 and 12 years old with flat feet.
Methods:
A semi-experimental pretest-posttest design was utilized. Forty girls aged 10-12 years with confirmed flat feet (arch drop > 9 mm) were purposively selected and randomly assigned to two groups: a corrective exercise group and an Xbox Kinect exercise group. The average weight, body mass index and navicular drop of the participants in the research were 37.58±3.34, 18.32±1.16, and 11.70±1.18, respectively. Participants engaged in specific exercises for their group for six weeks, three sessions per week. The BioDex Balance System SD, System115, VAC was used to measure static and dynamic balance before and after the intervention. SPSS version 21 was used for data analysis, and repeated measures analysis of variance applied to assess within and between groups changes (pre-test and post-test), with a significance level set at p≤0.05.
Results:
Corrective exercises significantly improved static balance variables, including overall index (p≤0.05), anterior-posterior index (p≤0.05), and lateral index (p≤0.05), as well as dynamic balance (p≤0.05) among participants. Xbox Kinect exercises also showed significant effectiveness in improving static balance variables, such as overall index (p≤0.05), anterior-posterior index (p≤0.05), lateral index (p≤0.05), and dynamic balance (p≤0.05). There was no significant difference between the effectiveness of corrective exercises and Xbox Kinect exercises on the static and dynamic balance of individuals with flat feet (p≥0.05).
Conclusion:
Based on the research findings, Xbox Kinect exercises, when supplemented with corrective interventions, show promising potential in enhancing the balance issues associated with flat feet. Consequently, these interactive games possess the ability to serve as a notable alternative for conventional corrective exercises, due to their attractive and engaging characteristics.
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