The Relationship Between Concentric Hip Abductor Strength and Performance of the Y-Balance Test (YBT)

Abstract

Side-lying hip abduction is an action used during manual muscle testing and is also prescribed as a rehabilitation exercise to improve dynamic single-leg stability. Little is known about the functional cross-over of this activity. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between concentric hip abductor strength and performance of the Y-Balance test (YBT). Forty-five recreational gym users (27 male, age 26.2 [8.4] years; 18 female, age 27.4 [7.5] years) had dynamic single-leg stability and concentric hip abductor peak torque assessed in the nondominant limb using a YBT and isokinetic dynamometry, respectively. All components of the YBT had a moderate association with concentric hip abductor torque which were greater in the posteromedial (r = .574, p > .001) and posterolateral (r = .657, p > .001) directions compared to the anterior direction (r = .402, p = .006). Greater concentric hip abductor strength is associated with greater scores on components of the YBT, particularly the posterior reaches.