{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nElastic barbells generate continuous, unpredictable perturbations through elastic deformation of the bar, delivering a top-down instability stimulus that transfers from the upper to the lower limbs. Whether repeated exposure produces training-related changes in muscle activation, and whether any postural control gains transfer to an untrained movement condition, remains unknown.Methods\n\nTwenty-eight resistance-trained men (mean age 22.8 ± 1.6 years; experimental group (EG) 23.4 ± 1.4, control group (CG) 22.3 ± 1.7) were randomly assigned to train with an elastic barbell (EG, n = 14) or an inelastic barbell (CG, n = 14). Both completed an identical progressive unilateral leg training program twice weekly for 12 weeks (20-40% of one-repetition maximum). Pre- and post-intervention measures were the Y-Balance Test (YBT), centre of pressure (COP) displacement during single-leg deadlift (SLDL), and surface electromyography (%RVC) of seven trunk and lower-limb muscles across three lifting speeds. Data were analyzed with mixed-design ANOVA (α = 0.05).Results\n\nThe EG showed greater gains in dynamic balance; the post-intervention YBT composite score was significantly higher in the EG (102.55 ± 6.22%) than in the CG (90.65 ± 12.95%; Group × Time F(1, 26) = 7.25, p = 0.012). A significant Group × Time interaction for COP under the untrained inelastic barbell task (anterior-posterior F(1, 26) = 8.86, p = 0.006; medial-lateral F(1, 26) = 5.61, p = 0.026) indicated task-specific transfer of postural control. The semitendinosus was the only muscle with a significant Group × Time interaction in both barbell tasks, with activation decreasing in the EG and increasing in the CG.Conclusions\n\nElastic barbell training improved dynamic balance and altered lower-limb muscle activation more than inelastic barbell training, and the postural control benefit transferred to the same task performed with an untrained barbell. Because injury outcomes and motor-unit behaviour were not assessed, injury outcomes were not assessed; any application to injury prevention remains a hypothesis for future investigation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Convergence Sports Instruction, Hwashin Cyber University, Busan 47558, Republic of Korea.",
    "Department of Sports Health Convergence, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Busan 46234, Republic of Korea."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jihwan Jeong",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-5995-9712"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jayeon Lee",
      "orcid": "0009-0009-2944-1049"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Chaekwan Lee",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-5634-8764"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Shuho Kang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ilbong Park",
      "orcid": "0009-0002-3469-2204"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/33zftnsc2cxmc.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/sports14100450",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709770",
  "id": "33zftnsc2cxmc",
  "issns": [
    "2075-4663"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931587",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2732|Sports Performance and Training"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221502952",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709770?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13709770",
  "pmid": "42931587",
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/33zftnsc2cxmc.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42931587",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931587"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2732|Sports Performance and Training",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Effects of Unilateral Leg Training Using Elastic and Inelastic Barbells on Dynamic Balance and Muscle Activation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.",
  "title_text": "Effects of Unilateral Leg Training Using Elastic and Inelastic Barbells on Dynamic Balance and Muscle Activation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/33zftnsc2cxmc",
  "venue": "Sports (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}