Comparison of Balance and Generalized Flexibility between Physically Active and Inactive Among Young Adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to determine balance and flexibility in young adults between the age group of 18 to 25 years. METHODOLOGY: It was a comparative cross-sectional study design. Ethical Review Committee approved the study after reviewing. The data was collected from a total of n = 370 healthy young adults after taking informed consent from the participants. Participants were divided into 2 groups through WHO activeness criteria. Y – Balance test was used to measure balance while sit and reach test and static flexibility tests were used to measure flexibility. RESULTS: The data was analyzed on SPSS version 21.0 and significance value was selected to be α = 0.05. Participants taken were from the age category of 18 to 25 years. Normality test was applied which showed majority of the data in non-normally distributed (p-value of Leg Length Composite Score, Right Leg Composite Score and Static Flexibility Score is less than 0.05). So, Mann Whitney U test was applied and results were computed. The results showed insignificant difference in Y – balance scores (Left Leg Composite Score p = 0.464, Right Leg Composite Score p = 0.780) and sit and reach scores (p = 0.093) of inactive individuals as compared to active individuals. Moreover, there was statistically insignificant difference in static flexibility (p = 0.879) of both groups with active participants against inactive participants. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that physical activity has no significant effect on balance and flexibility in young adults. However, taking participants of equal weight and height in active against inactive group may improve the results or by using quantitative tools to measure balance and flexibility and by using another method to screen out participants to be included in active and inactive groups the results could be improved further. KEYWORDS: Balance, Flexibility, Physical Activity, Young Adults