Association of Y balance test reach asymmetry and injury in Division I Athletes

Department

Athletic Training

Document Type

Article

Publication Source

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

Publication Date

2015-01-01

Volume

47

Issue

1

First Page

136

Last Page

141

Abstract

Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Purpose: The Y balance test (YBT) is a screen of dynamic balance requiring stance leg balance while the contralateral leg reaches in anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) directions. YBT has been proposed as a screen for injury risk; however, limited research has examined the association between YBT and injury. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between YBT (asymmetry and composite score (CS)) and noncontact injury in a sample of Division I (DI) college athletes from multiple sports. Methods: DI college athletes were screened with the YBT during the pre-participation examination to determine asymmetry (absolute difference between legs in ANT, PL, and PM) and CS (summed average of right/left ANT, PL, and PM normalized to leg length). Participants were followed throughout the sport season, and noncontact injuries requiring athletic training staff intervention were recorded for analysis. Demographic variables between injured and uninjured athletes were assessed with independent t-tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined optimal cut points for predicting injury on the basis of CS and asymmetry. CS was analyzed as a continuous variable, as ROC curves were unable to maximize sensitivity and specificity. Logistic regression models adjusted for sport and previous injury determined the odds of injury on the basis of asymmetry and CS. Results: One hundred and eighty-four participants were included in analysis; 81 were injured. ROC curves determined asymmetry >4 cm (sensitivity, 59%; specificity, 72%) as the optimal cut point for predicting injury. Only ANT asymmetry was significantly associated with noncontact injury (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-4.76). Conclusions: ANT asymmetry >4 cm was associated with increased risk of noncontact injury. CS in this sample of DI athletes was not associated with increased risk of injury.

Keywords

Movement pattern, Neuromuscular control, Star excursion balance test, Ybt

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0000000000000380

https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000380

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