DYNAMIC BALANCE CONTROL IN ATHLETES WITH PRIOR HAMSTRING INJURIES AND FOOT PRONATION

Cheng-Feng Lin, Amorntherp Jankaew, Suci Muqodimatul Jannah
Purpose:

This study aimed to investigate dynamic balance performance using the star excursion balance test (SEBT) in athletes with prior hamstring injury and foot pronation. This study aimed to investigate dynamic balance performance using the star excursion balance test (SEBT) in athletes with prior hamstring injury and foot pronation

Methods:

Twelve athletes with a history of hamstring injuries with foot pronation (HPF; N=6) and without foot pronation (HNF; N=6) and six healthy athletes with foot pronation (PF) were recruited based on their injury history and Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) scores. The HPF and PF groups had an FPI score >+5, while the HNF group had an FPI score ≤+5. The testing began with a leg length assessment, followed by the application of 4 IMU electrodes (Delsys Inc., Boston, USA) positioned at T7, L5, and bilaterally on the mid-foot. Subsequently, participants performed the SEBT test in the anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions for both legs. Each leg underwent 3 trials for each reaching direction in a randomized order, and the mean of the 3 trials was calculated and normalized to the individual’s leg length. Additionally, the mean acceleration of the reaching foot and the angular velocity of the stance foot were analyzed using the IMU data. One-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to examine the mean differences between the three groups for all outcomes.

Results:

Significant differences in reaching distance were observed among the three groups in the ANT (p = 0.006), PL (p = 0.035), and PM (p = 0.002) directions. However, only foot acceleration of the reaching foot in the PM direction showed a statistically significant between the three groups (p = 0.012).

Conclusion(s):

Athletes with hamstring injuries with foot pronation demonstrated significantly shorter reaching distances in all directions and reduced foot acceleration in the PM direction compared to athletes with hamstring injuries without foot pronation and those in the foot pronation group. These findings indicate that the combination of hamstring injury and foot pronation adversely affects dynamic balance control strategies, resulting in decreased reaching distances and foot acceleration.

Implications:

The findings suggest that rehabilitation programs should address both hamstring function and foot posture to improve dynamic balance, which is essential for athletic performance and injury prevention. Clinicians should incorporate strategies to enhance foot mechanics and balance control in athletes recovering from hamstring injuries, as this may reduce the risk of future injuries and optimize functional outcomes.

Funding acknowledgements:
This study was supported by the Motion Analysis and Injury Prevention Laboratory at National Cheng Kung University.
Keywords:
Dynamic balance
hamstring injury
foot pronation
Primary topic:
Sport and sports injuries
Second topic:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Institutional Review Board (IRB) of National Cheng Kung University Hospital.
Provide the ethics approval number:
No. A-ER-111-511
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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