The Effect of Balance Training Protocols on Alpine Skiing: A Systematic Review of Dry-Land and On-Snow Interventions on balance performance

The role of balance as a fundamental motor skill in alpine skiing is unquestionable, but the literature appears scant concerning specific studies on balance training, its outcomes, and particulars such as training intensity, duration, and frequency in relation to alpine skiing. This comprehensive review draws upon articles discovered via a systematic, computerized search of prominent databases including Science Direct, Science Citation Index, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals, and Academic Search Complete spanning the period 1991-2020. Given the absence of a universally accepted terminology for training encompassing balance exercises, our search incorporated articles discussing balance training, neuromuscular training, proprioceptive training, core stability training, and postural control within the context of alpine skiing, employing a Boolean search strategy. From the 437 articles found, only 10 satisfactorily met our inclusion criteria. This systematic review sought to clarify the balance training protocols, specifically those involving dry-land or on-snow interventions, which improve balance performance in healthy alpine skiers. A majority of the reviewed articles attested to a beneficial effect of balance training protocols on balance performance in alpine skiing.