Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe whether there was a difference in balance scores between the utilization of different floor surfaces.The surfaces used to assess the balance scores within the individual were hardwood, traditional yoga mat, and NABOSO mat. The NABOSO technology was designed to increase mechanical proprioception in hands and feet.
Methods: The investigators recruited 18 participants between the ages of 19-25, all of them met eligibility criteria to partake in the study. They all completed a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire and informed consent document prior to the tests to ensure that there were no factors that would exclude them from the study. The subjects were randomly assigned with regards to how they would progress through the three floor surface conditions. The investigators then led the subjects in a brief warm-up, took their height, and leg height. All subjects started out on the Neurocom Balance Master performing a Unilateral Eyes Open & Eyes Closed test followed by the Y-Balance test.
Results: A repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there were no significant differences, p\u3e0.05, between the static and dynamic balance tests (Unilateral Stance and Y-Balance Test) among any of the three floor surface conditions (Control- hardwood, yoga mat, NABOSO mat).
Conclusion: The study conducted revealed no significant difference within the test scores of the participant among the three conditions. To provide further support or argument of the results collected in this study, future considerations should be taken into account to conduct the study on special populations such as geriatric patients or children/adolescents. Future studies should also consider prolonging the time of the study and increasing the sample size that might eliminate factors that will affect the accuracy of the results and observe whether the NABOSO mat has an increasing effect on balance and proprioception or experiences similar results to this study