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Home / Equine Research Bank / Medicine (Baltimore) / Balance performance among horseback-rider compared to non-ho...
Medicine2024; 103(21); e38291; doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038291

Balance performance among horseback-rider compared to non-horseback-rider women in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract: Horseback riding requires adapting to constant changes in balance conditions, maintaining equilibrium on the horse, and preventing falls. However, differences in balance performance among horseback riders and non-rider-healthy young women in Saudi Arabia have not been explored. This study investigates whether horseback-rider women would perform better on static and dynamic balance tests than non-rider women. Also, the study examined the effect of years of horseback riding on balance performance in the rider group. Twenty healthy young females participated in the study using a convenience sampling method. Ten were riders, and ten were non-riders. Static and dynamic balance tests, including the Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go (TUG), and unipedal stance test (UPST), was obtained from all subjects. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare balance performance between the horseback riders and non-riders groups. The horseback-rider group had statistically significantly higher scores on both the static and dynamic tests than non-riders: BBS test (Z = -2.537, P = .011), TUG (t = -3.889, P = .001), and unipedal stance test with the eyes open and closed (t = 14.048, t = 13.639, P = .000). Our rider sample did not show a statistically significant correlation between years of riding and balance scores. The horseback riders have greater static and dynamic balance abilities than non-riders. Further study is needed to compare the balance performance between experienced riders versus beginners among healthy adults in Saudi Arabia.
Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-24 PubMed ID: 38788034PubMed Central: PMC11124696DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038291Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Balance abilities were compared between horseback-rider women and non-rider women in Saudi Arabia, showing that riders perform better on various balance tests. The study also examined whether the number of years spent riding affected balance within the rider group but found no significant correlation.

Background and Purpose

  • Horseback riding demands constant adjustment to maintain balance due to the dynamic nature of riding a moving horse.
  • Balance performance is critical for preventing falls and maintaining stability during riding.
  • The study aimed to determine if horseback-rider women perform better on static (still) and dynamic (movement) balance tests compared to non-rider women.
  • Additionally, it explored whether years of riding experience influenced balance performance within the rider group.
  • The focus was on healthy young women in Saudi Arabia, a population where this comparison was previously unexplored.

Methods

  • Design: Cross-sectional study comparing two groups at a single point in time.
  • Participants: Twenty healthy young females; 10 horseback riders and 10 non-riders.
  • Sampling: Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants.
  • Balance Assessments:
    • Berg Balance Scale (BBS): Assesses static and dynamic balance through various functional tasks.
    • Timed Up and Go (TUG): Measures dynamic balance by timing how quickly a person rises from a chair, walks, turns, and sits down.
    • Unipedal Stance Test (UPST): Assesses static balance by measuring the duration a person can stand on one leg, tested both with eyes open and eyes closed.
  • Data Analysis: Both descriptive and inferential statistical tests (e.g., t-tests, correlation) were applied to compare groups and explore relationships.

Key Findings

  • Horseback riders scored significantly better than non-riders on all balance tests:
    • BBS (static and dynamic balance): Riders had notably higher scores (statistically significant with Z = -2.537, P = .011).
    • TUG (dynamic balance): Riders performed the timed task faster (t = -3.889, P = .001).
    • UPST (static balance with eyes open and eyes closed): Riders could stand longer on one leg (highly significant results with t = 14.048, t = 13.639, P = .000).
  • No significant correlation was found between years of riding experience and balance scores within the rider group, suggesting duration of riding did not impact balance in this sample.

Interpretation and Implications

  • The improved balance among horseback riders supports the idea that horseback riding enhances both static and dynamic balance abilities.
  • This benefit likely arises from the continuous postural adaptations required during riding, which may transfer to improved balance in daily activities.
  • The absence of a correlation between years of riding and balance implies that even relatively short-term riding might improve balance or that other factors (such as training intensity or technique) might be influential.
  • Given the small sample size and cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and serve as preliminary evidence.

Recommendations for Future Research

  • Conduct studies with larger and more diverse samples to confirm and generalize findings.
  • Explore longitudinal designs to evaluate how balance develops with riding experience over time.
  • Compare balance performance among beginner, intermediate, and expert riders to identify potential dose-response relationships.
  • Investigate other factors influencing balance improvements such as frequency, type of riding, and physical fitness.
  • Assess the potential benefits of horseback riding as a therapeutic or preventive intervention to improve balance in populations at risk for falls.

Cite This Article

APA
Albishi AM. (2024). Balance performance among horseback-rider compared to non-horseback-rider women in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore), 103(21), e38291. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000038291

Publication

Medicine
ISSN: 1536-5964
NlmUniqueID: 2985248R
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 103
Issue: 21
Pages: e38291
PII: e38291

Researcher Affiliations

Albishi, Alaa M
  • Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Humans
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Young Adult
  • Horses
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Albishi AM. Physical activity levels, agility skills and speed among female basketball players compared to non-basketball players in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.. PLoS One 2024;19(11):e0312431.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312431pubmed: 39576821google scholar: lookup
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