Normative data and the influence of age and gender on power, balance, flexibility, and functional movement in healthy service members

Abstract

Objectives: Determine the influence of age and sex and describe normative data on field expedient tests associated with power, balance, trunk stability, mobility, and functional movement in a military population.

Methods: Participants (n = 247) completed a series of clinical and functional tests, including closed-chain ankle dorsiflexion (DF), Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Y-Balance Test Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ), Y-Balance Test Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ), single leg vertical jump (SLVJ), 6-m timed hop (6-m timed), and triple hop. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Analysis of variance tests were performed to compare the results based on sex and age (<30 years, >30 years).

Results: Service members demonstrated DF of 34.2 ± 6.1°, FMS composite score of 16.2 ± 2.2, YBT-LQ normalized composite score of 96.9 ± 8.6%, YBT-UQ normalized composite score of 87.6 ± 9.6%, SLVJ of 26.9 ± 8.6 cm, 6-m hop of 2.4 ± 0.5 seconds, and a triple hop of 390.9 ± 110.8 cm. Men performed greater than women (p < 0.05) on the YBT-LQ, YBT-UQ, SLVJ, 6-m timed, and triple hop. Those <30 years of age performed better than older participants (p < 0.05) on the DF, FMS, YBT-LQ, SLVJ, 6-m hop, and triple hop.

Conclusions: Findings provide normative data on military members. Men performed better on power, balance, and trunk stability tests, whereas younger individuals performed better on power, balance, mobility, and functional movement.