Comparison of Dynamic Balance in Football Players with and without Genu Varum Using Star Excursion Balance Test

Abstract

Background and Aims: Genu Varum is an angular deformity of the knee that is responsible for the alteration of the forces at the knee so that the line of force shifts farther medially from the knee joint centre intensifying the medial compartment load and creating a medial joint reaction force that is nearly three and a half times that of the lateral compartment. Football is a high intensity sport that places inordinate amounts of load and torque on the knee joint making it more susceptible to growth deformities in the developing age groups. Genu varum is a predisposing factor to lateral instability which affects dynamic balance. This study consists of a comparison in dynamic balance between professional football players, those without a knee deformity and those with genu varum deformity using the Star excursion balance test. Methodology: A comparative study was conducted among 40 elite level football players and they were divided into two groups one of which consisted football players without a knee deformity and the other group which comprised of football players with genu varum. Genu varum was calculated using the intercondylar distance measure. Star excursion balance test was used to assess dynamic balance of each individual and their average distances were calculated for each direction in the test. Results: The Reach Distances in the anterior direction showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between the control and Group Bs whereas significant differences (P<0.05) were obtained in the Posteromedial and Posterolateral directions. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in reach distances in the anterior direction but significant differences in the reach distances were observed in the posteromedial as well as the posterolateral direction suggesting that genu varum deformity does affect the dynamic balance in elite level football players. Key words: Genu Varum, Football Players, Dynamic Balance, Star excursion balance test.