Does the Y-Balance test Predict Lower Extremity Injury among Volleyball Players?

Balance, otherwise known as ‘postural control’, can be defined statically as the ability to maintain a base of support with minimal movement, and dynamically as the ability to perform a task while maintaining a stable position. In a chaotic sporting environment, the ability to maintain a stable position is vital not only for successful application of the skill, but to also reduce the likelihood of injury. As a result, it may be of great interest to test and monitor an athlete's dynamic stability.

To determine if the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (LQYBT) is predictive of lower extremity injury among volleyball players.

Forty subjects from M.B sports club were recruited by convenient sampling and divided into two groups. The subjects were volleyball players and had a good knack of the sport. Both male and female players aged between 18–25 years were included. Among the forty subjects, twenty of them sustained a lower limb injury six months ago and the remaining did not sustain any injury. The subjects who did not sustain any injury were recruited in Group-A and those who had sustained injury were in Group-B. The Y shaped test area was made using athletic tape. The three reach directions included were Anterior, Posteromedial and Posterolateral. Subjects underwent three trials for each reach distance. Maximal reach distances were recorded in each direction and normalized to leg length. Composite reach distance (%) was calculated by the Sum of the 3 reach directions/3 times the limb length *100. Composite scores were compared using independent T test among the two groups.

Among the forty subjects, twenty of them sustained a lower extremity injury six months ago. Significant difference were found between the two groups for the composite scores obtained based on the performance of the subjects (p<0.05).

The LQYBT appears to predict lower extremity injuries among the volleyball players. This test can be utilized as a screening tool among the sports as well as general population as a predictor of lower extremity injuries.