Revealing the Impact of Physical Activity on Student Postural Stability Through Inclinometer Sensor Technology

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of a 16-session of physical education program on student postural stability using inclinometer sensor technology. The objective is to determine whether targeted physical education interventions can enhance postural consistency and reduce variability, particularly in challenging stances, providing insights into the role of structured activity in promoting dynamic and static balance in students. Method: This study evaluated the effects of a 16-session physical education program on the postural stability (PS) and the Postural Tendency (PT) of male students in an English Language Study Program. Ten participants, aged 19.1 years old on average (SD ± .876), with a mean weight of 7.1 kg (SD ± 26.3), height of 166 cm (SD = 8.67), and BMI of 25 kg/m² (SD = 7.45), took part in the intervention. Postural stability was assessed using inclinometer sensors attached to the thorax during bipedal, unipedal, and tiptoe stances, along the X (sagittal) and Y (frontal) axes, both before and after the intervention. By assessing postural stability and tendency across bipedal, unipedal, and tiptoe stances along the sagittal (X) and frontal (Y) axes, the study seeks to quantify the effectiveness of physical activity in improving balance, alignment, and control. Results: Postural stability and tendency assessments revealed that sagittal axis movements were consistently larger than frontal axis movements, particularly in challenging stances like tiptoe, which showed the greatest variability and difficulty. Post-intervention, significant improvements were observed in sagittal axis measures across bipedal, unipedal, and tiptoe stances, with the largest improvements in tiptoe sagittal stability (PS-Tiptoe-X). Frontal axis measures showed trends toward improvement but were not statistically significant. The intervention was most effective in enhancing postural control in unipedal and tiptoe stances, which demand greater balance and alignment, while bipedal stances showed minimal changes due to their inherently stable nature. Conclusion: Overall, the physical education program effectively enhanced postural stability, particularly in challenging stances and sagittal alignment, supporting its potential to improve dynamic balance and consistency in postural control.