Multidimensional Predictors of Balance in Healthy Young Adults

Determinants of Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Young Adults: A Multidimensional Observational Study

Brief Summary (for ClinicalTrials.gov) This cross-sectional observational study aims to identify independent determinants of static and dynamic balance in healthy young adults using a multidimensional assessment framework. A total of 119 healthy participants (mean age 22.6 ± 1.5 years; 61.3% female) completed standardized static balance tests (Stork Balance Test and Tandem Stance Test under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions) and a dynamic balance test (Y-Balance Test for right and left limbs). Candidate explanatory factors include foot posture (Foot Posture Index-6), body composition assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, general muscle strength (dominant hand grip strength), weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (knee-to-wall/weight-bearing lunge test), functional lower-limb strength (30-second sit-to-stand test), sex, and cognitive performance (Stroop Test Part 5). Multiple linear regression model (enter method) was used to determine which factors independently predict static and dynamic balance outcomes. Findings are expected to clarify which structural, functional, and cognitive variables most strongly contribute to balance performance in healthy young adults, informing targeted assessment and prevention strategies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Adult; Balance Assessment
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Participants did not receive any intervention as part of the study; they only underwent assessments.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 119

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Konyaaltı
    • Antalya, Konyaaltı, Turkey (Türkiye), 07070
      • Pamukkale University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of 119 healthy young adults who were voluntarily enrolled (mean age 22.6 ± 1.5 years; 61.3% female).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 18-30 years
• absence of lower extremity
• absence of vestibular pathology
• willingness to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• neurological or neuromuscular disorders
• leg length discrepancy >5 mm
• visual or auditory impairment
• history of middle ear infection in the last 6 months
• recent (<6 months) lower extremity injury
• Having a fracture
• Having surgery
• Having tinnitus
• Having a persistent headache
• Current use of medications that may influence balance

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Healthy participants

Diagnostic test: Participants did not receive any intervention as part of the study; they only underwent assessments.; Participants completed standardized static balance tests (Stork Balance Test and Tandem Stance Test under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions) and dynamic balance assessments using the Y-Balance Test for both right and left limbs. In addition, the following measurements were obtained: foot posture (Foot Posture Index-6), body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis, general muscle strength (dominant hand grip strength), weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (knee-to-wall/weight-bearing lunge test), functional lower-limb strength (30-second sit-to-stand test), sex, and cognitive performance (Stroop Test Part 5).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stork Balance Test (Eyes Open and Eyes Closed) Time	Time (seconds) maintained in the Stork Balance Test under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Higher values indicate better static balance.	At a single study visit (baseline)
Tandem Stance Test (Eyes Open and Eyes Closed) Time	Time (seconds) maintained in the Tandem Stance Test under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Higher values indicate better static balance.	At a single study visit (baseline)
Y-Balance Test Composite Score (Right and Left)	Y-Balance Test composite score (%) for the right and left lower limbs, calculated from reach distances and normalized to limb length. Higher values indicate better dynamic balance.	At a single study visit (baseline)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Foot Posture Index-6 (FPI-6)	Foot posture assessed using the Foot Posture Index-6. Outcome: total FPI-6 score (-12 to +12), with higher scores indicating a more pronated foot posture.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Knee-to-Wall Test (KTW)	Ankle mobility was assessed with the Knee-to-Wall Test (KTW). In this test, functional dorsiflexion flexibility was measured using a tape measure placed on the tip of the foot while the participant attempted to touch the wall with the knee without heel lift.	Baseline (single assessment session)
30-Second Sit-to-Stand Test	Number of full sit-to-stand repetitions completed in 30 seconds. Higher counts indicate better functional lower-limb strength/endurance.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Dominant Hand Grip Strength	General muscle strength was assessed via dominant hand grip strength measurement. Dominant hand grip strength measured using a hand dynamometer. Outcome: mean grip strength (kg) across three trials. Higher values indicate greater general muscle strength.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Stroop Test	Cognitive performance was tested with the Stroop Test-Part 5. In this section, participants were required to name the ink color of incongruent color words rather than reading the words. Completion time was recorded with a stopwatch.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Fat Mass (kilograms) measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis	Fat mass is measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita body composition analyzer) and reported in kilograms.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Skeletal Muscle Mass (kilograms) measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis	Skeletal muscle mass is measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita body composition analyzer) and reported in kilograms.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Bone Mass (kilograms) measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis	Bone mass is measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita body composition analyzer) and reported in kilograms.	Baseline (single assessment session)
Total Body Water (kilograms) measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis	Total body water is measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (Tanita body composition analyzer) and reported in kilograms.	Baseline (single assessment session)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Akdeniz University
• Collaborators: Pamukkale University; Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 25, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 10, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): January 10, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 17, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: biomechanics; dynamic balance; static balance; healthy young adults
• Other Study ID Numbers: 09.09.2025/17

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No