Citation

Overmoyer GV, Reiser RF. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2015; 29(5): 1240-1247.

Affiliation

Clinical Biomechanics Laboratory aDepartment of Health and Exercise Science bSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000000693

PMID

25719917

Abstract

Joint flexibility, bilateral asymmetries in flexibility, and bilateral asymmetries in performance of the Y-Balance Test have all been associated with injuries. However, relationships amongst these attributes are unclear. The goal of this investigation was to examine how flexibility and flexibility asymmetries relate to the Y-Balance Test. Twenty (9 men, 11 women) healthy, active young adults (mean ± SD: age=21.9 ± 2.6 years; height=171 ± 8.8 cm; mass=67.2 ± 1.9 kg) performed nine different lower extremity active range of motion (AROM) tests and the Y-Balance Test in a single visit. Significant correlations (p<0.05) existed between bilateral average AROM measures and bilateral average Y-Balance Test scores at the ankle and hip. Specifically, Ankle Dorsiflexion AROM at 0° knee flexion significantly correlated with Anterior, Posterolateral, and Composite directional scores of the Y-Balance test (r=0.497-0.736). Significant correlations in Ankle Dorsiflexion AROM at 90° knee flexion also existed with Anterior, Posterolateral, Posteromedial, and Composite directional scores (r=0.472-0.795). Hip Flexion AROM was significantly correlated with Posterolateral, Posteromedial, and Composite directional scores (r=0.457-0.583). Significant correlations between asymmetries in AROM and asymmetries in the Y-Balance Test existed only in Ankle Plantarflexion with Anterior, Posterolateral, and Composite directional scores of the Y-Balance Test (r=0.520-0.636).

RESULTS suggest that when used with recreationally active healthy adults the Y-Balance Test may help identify lower extremity flexibility deficits and flexibility asymmetries in the ankle and hip regions, but may need to be used in conjunction with additional tests to understand a broader picture of functional movement and injury risk.

Language: en