Xergia SA1,2, Tsepis E1, Pappas E3
1Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Western Greece, Department of Physiotherapy, Aigio, Greece, 2European University Cyprus, Department of Physiotherapy, Nicosia, Cyprus, 3The University of Sydney, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Background: The modified star excursion balance test (MSEBT) is a popular and easy clinical test that has been linked to lower extremity injury. However, the biomechanical strategies used by athletes during the test are currently unclear.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify biomechanical predictors of MSEBT performance in handball and Judo athletes. Specifically, this study aimed to develop multivariable regression models for the three direction of MSEBT as the outcome variables and lower extremity and trunk frontal and sagittal plane kinematics and center of pressure maximum displacements and standard deviations as predictors.
Methods: Two groups of healthy male athletes participated (19 handball athletes and 19 Judo athletes) of the Handball and Judo national team of Cyprus respectively. All participants completed the Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire (WFQ-R) and the modified MSEBT . Full body kinematics analysis were collected with a 12-camera Vicon motion analysis system and kinetic data were collected via a force plate (Bertec 4060-10-2000). The Nexus 2.4 και Procalc 1.1 were used for data processing. Variables that were significantly correlated at p 0.05 were entered into stepwise multiple regression models with cut-offs for entering the regression model at 0.05 and for removal at 0.10.
Results: For the posterolateral MSEBT direction the multivariable regression model included only hip flexion ROM with adjusted R square 0.683 (p 0.001). For the posteromedial direction the multivariable regression model included hip and ankle flexion ROM with adjusted R square 0.680 (p 0.001). Hip flexion ROM alone explained 63.7% of the variability. Finally, for the anterior direction the multivariable regression model included only ankle flexion ROM with adjusted R square 0.423 (p 0.001).
Conclusion(s): Hip flexion ROM alone predicted 2/3 of the variability for the posterolateral and posteromedial directions. However, for the anterior SEBT direction it is the ankle that predicts performance but to a lesser extent (42%). Therefore, addressing hip restrictions could improve performance in the posteromedial and posterolateral directions.
Implications: Hip flexion range of motion is the strongest predictor of performance in the posteromedial and posterolateral SEBT directions. Addressing functional hip flexion restrictions may be important for improving SEBT performance.
Keywords: Modified Star Excursion Balance Test, ACL injury, Sports
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided for the present study
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify biomechanical predictors of MSEBT performance in handball and Judo athletes. Specifically, this study aimed to develop multivariable regression models for the three direction of MSEBT as the outcome variables and lower extremity and trunk frontal and sagittal plane kinematics and center of pressure maximum displacements and standard deviations as predictors.
Methods: Two groups of healthy male athletes participated (19 handball athletes and 19 Judo athletes) of the Handball and Judo national team of Cyprus respectively. All participants completed the Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire (WFQ-R) and the modified MSEBT . Full body kinematics analysis were collected with a 12-camera Vicon motion analysis system and kinetic data were collected via a force plate (Bertec 4060-10-2000). The Nexus 2.4 και Procalc 1.1 were used for data processing. Variables that were significantly correlated at p 0.05 were entered into stepwise multiple regression models with cut-offs for entering the regression model at 0.05 and for removal at 0.10.
Results: For the posterolateral MSEBT direction the multivariable regression model included only hip flexion ROM with adjusted R square 0.683 (p 0.001). For the posteromedial direction the multivariable regression model included hip and ankle flexion ROM with adjusted R square 0.680 (p 0.001). Hip flexion ROM alone explained 63.7% of the variability. Finally, for the anterior direction the multivariable regression model included only ankle flexion ROM with adjusted R square 0.423 (p 0.001).
Conclusion(s): Hip flexion ROM alone predicted 2/3 of the variability for the posterolateral and posteromedial directions. However, for the anterior SEBT direction it is the ankle that predicts performance but to a lesser extent (42%). Therefore, addressing hip restrictions could improve performance in the posteromedial and posterolateral directions.
Implications: Hip flexion range of motion is the strongest predictor of performance in the posteromedial and posterolateral SEBT directions. Addressing functional hip flexion restrictions may be important for improving SEBT performance.
Keywords: Modified Star Excursion Balance Test, ACL injury, Sports
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was provided for the present study
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: European University Cypru
Ethics committee: Cyprus National Bioethics Committee
Ethics number: Cyprus National Bioethics Committee
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
