Y Balance Normative Data of Dynamic Balance for Collegiate Soccer Players

Abstract

Background: Balance is a vital component of physical fitness wherein athletes have to stay in control oftheir body’s position. Poor balance has often been associated with the risk of sustaining injuries amongparticipants of competitive sports. Y balance test (YBT) has been found to be a reliable and valid toolto assess balance. Establishing a normative data for different sports based on their level of competitioncould be beneficial for screening, ruling out balance deficits. It could as well help coaches or trainers makedecisions about athlete’s fitness level, risk of injuries and return to sports after any injury.Objectives: To find out the normative data of lower extremity using Y Balance test among collegiate soccerplayers and to compare the Y balance scores between the legs.Study Design: A cross sectional study.Methods: Thirty three soccer players aged between 17-26 were selected from Yenepoya (Deemed to beUniversity) soccer team. A standardized protocol was followed to record Y balance test scores. Reachdistances of each participant was then normalized with limb length of respective side. Mean and standarddeviation was used to find the normative distribution of Y balance reach score in all the three directions andpaired t-test was used to compare the reach scores between the legs.Result: Normative values of anterior reach distance right and left were 70.93 and 70.79 respectively,posterolateral right and left were 107.95 and 107.74 respectively, posteromedial right and left were 105.52and 106.26 respectively and composite scores of right and left were 94.82 and 94.86 respectively. Therewere no statistically significant difference between the legs in anterior, posterolateral, posteromedial andcomposite scores.Conclusion: Normative data of dynamic balance of lower extremity among collegiate soccer players havebeen established using Y balance test kit.