Balance is a complex ability essential for the performance of any motor task and for preventing injuries and falls. The appearance of holographic wristbands, the supposed benefits of which include improved balance, received the attention of the public and the media alike. However, there is no scientific evidence that holograms improve any physical attribute. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Power Balance® holographic wristbands on balance. Following a triple-blind method, 25 healthy and physically active university students (14 women, 11 men) underwent the sensory organization test (SOT) on two separate days while wearing a wristband with or without holograms (the tests being performed in a random but counterbalanced order). The SOT provides details on total balance and the relative contribution of the three main sensory systems (somatosensory, vestibular and visual) involved in balance. The results for the group as a whole revealed the wearing of a holographic wristband to have no significant effect on any of these variables. However, when the women’s results were analyzed separately, the wearing of holographic wristbands was associated with significant differences in the scores of two SOT variables: composite balance (86.5±3.7 with the holographic wristband compared to 85.5±4.5 without it; p≤0.05) and overall mean (93.5±2.0 compared to 92.8±2.4; p≤0.05). Although these statistical differences were discovered, the magnitude of these differences was so small that balance could not have been improved in any practical sense. In conclusion, Power Balance® holographic wristbands exert no meaningful effect on balance in healthy young adults.

Resumen

El equilibrio es una habilidad compleja esencial para la realización de cualquier tarea motriz y para la prevención de lesiones y caídas. La aparición de las pulseras holográficas, con supuestos beneficios entre los cuales se incluye la mejora del equilibrio, recibió la atención del público y los medios de comunicación por igual. Sin embargo, no hay evidencia científica de que los hologramas mejoren cualquier atributo físico. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de las pulseras holográficas Power Balance® en el equilibrio. Siguiendo un método triple ciego, 25 estudiantes sanos y físicamente activos universitarios (14 mujeres, 11 hombres) fueron sometidos a la prueba de organización sensorial (SOT) en dos días separados mientras llevaban una pulsera con o sin hologramas (los ensayos se realizaron al azar en un orden contrabalanceado). El SOT proporciona detalles sobre el equilibrio total y la contribución relativa de los tres sistemas sensoriales principales (somatosensoriales, visuales y vestibulares) que intervienen en el equilibrio. Los resultados para el grupo como un todo revelaron que el uso de una pulsera holográfica no tiene ningún efecto significativo en cualquiera de estas variables. Sin embargo, cuando se analizaron los resultados de las mujeres de forma aislada, el uso de las pulseras holográficas se asoció con diferencias significativas en las puntuaciones de dos variables SOT: Equilibrio compuesto (86.5±3.7 con la pulsera holográfica en comparación con 85.5±4.5 sin ella; p≤0.05) y la media general (93.5±2.0 en comparación con 92.8±2.4; p≤0.05). Sin embargo, aunque a nivel estadístico estas diferencias fueron encontradas, la magnitud era tan pequeña que el equilibrio no se podría haber mejorado en ningún sentido práctico. En conclusión, las pulseras holográficas Power Balance® no ejercen ningún efecto significativo en el equilibrio en adultos jóvenes sanos.

http://dx.doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2014.03802

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