History of ankle sprain affect the star excursion balance test among youth football players

Abstract

Background: The relationship between the results of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and lateral ankle sprain (LAS) among youth football players was investigated.

Methods: The dominant leg and history of LASs were asked from 33 male youth football players. The SEBT in the anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directions were measured for both limbs. The relationship between the history of LAS and reach difference over 4 cm between the dominant and nondominant legs in each direction was statistically analyzed.

Results: The number of players with the history of LAS, whose dominant/nondominant reach difference was over 4 cm in the anterior direction, was significantly higher to that in players without a history of LAS in both the dominant (94% vs. 63%, p = 0.02) and nondominant (100% vs. 25%, p = 0.02) legs.

Conclusion: Youth football players with a history of LAS showed reach deficit in the anterior direction in the SEBT.

Keywords: Lateral ankle sprain; The star excursion balance test; Youth football players.