Sex Differences in Y-Balance Performance in Elite Figure Skaters

Abstract

Asymmetrical dynamic balance compared to normative populations have been associated with increased risk of injury in athletes, however it is unclear if the current data are similar to balance performance in figure skaters. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare performance on the y-balance test between sexes and disciplines in elite figure skaters. Thirty-two senior level figure skaters from 3 different disciplines (singles, dance, pair) completed the y-balance test on the take-off and landing leg. Absolute differences between limbs (cm), normalized differences between limbs (% leg length), and composite scores (% leg length) were calculated for all skaters. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to identify differences in performance based on discipline and sex. Females had a greater absolute difference between limbs (Mean Difference = -3.62cm) and a greater normalized difference between limbs on the posterolateral reach compared to males (Mean Difference = -4.26% leg length). Ice dancers had larger composite scores on the take-off leg compared to pair skaters (Mean Difference = 6.42%). These results suggest that male and female figure skaters demonstrate differences in dynamic balance in the posterolateral direction, with female skaters exhibiting decreased reach on the landing leg, which may suggest asymmetrical hip strength in female figure skaters and increase risk of lower extremity injury in the landing leg. Sport performance professionals should consider these sex differences when designing strength programs for elite figure skaters.

Preseason Y Balance Test Scores are not Associated with Noncontact Time-Loss Lower Quadrant Injury in Male Collegiate Basketball Players

“…Several studies utilizing heterogeneous populations (D I athletes [10,13], D II women’s BB/women’s volleyball [12] and D III athletes [unpublished data, 2019] [24]) have reported no association between preseason scores and sports injury. Potential reasons for the finding of no association between test scores and injury may be due to differences in injury risk between sports or differences in normalized reach performance between genders [16,25,26,27]. Contrary to the findings associated with the aforementioned studies, two studies utilizing homogeneous populations (male collegiate football players = 59 [7] and male professional and amateur soccer players = 74 [8]) have reported significant relationships between either composite score [7] or reach asymmetry [8] and injury.…”

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Y-Balance Test Lower Quarter: Reliability, Discriminant Validity, and Predictive Validity

“…Full text eligibility assessment of the remaining 411 articles resulted in 57 articles with 4 in multiple categories (Figure 1). 3,9,[12][13][14] Nine studies 9,25,33,40,46,[51][52][53][54] assessed reliability, 36 studies [12][13][14][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]32,35,37,38,[41][42][43][44][45]47,49,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] examined differences in the performance on the YBT-LQ in different populations or reported mean performance on the YBT-LQ in a specific population, and 16 studies 3,3...…”

“…When competition level was considered alone (middle school, high school, college, professional), no differences were observed for the anterior (p = 0.05), posteromedial (p = 0.69), posterolateral (p = 0.62), or composite score (p = 0.15) (Figure 3, 4, 5, 6). [12][13][14][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]32,35,37,38,[41][42][43][44][45]47,49,[54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67]…”

“…Testretest reliability was assessed in five studies with ICCs ranging from 0.63-0.93.25,33,[52][53][54] ) [12][13][14]37,43,44,[58][59][60][61][63][64][65][66] However, no difference was observed between sexes in the anterior reach direction (Male: 71.9 95% CI 69.5-74.5; Female: 70.8 95% CI .7-75.9; p=0.708)[12][13][14]25,27,37,44,54,[57][58][59][60][61]63,[65][66][67] or in composite score (Male: 95.8 95% CI 94.5-97.…”

COMPARISON of LOWER QUARTER Y-BALANCE TEST SCORES for FEMALE COLLEGIATE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS BASED on COMPETITION LEVEL, POSITION, and STARTER STATUS

“…3,4,7,13 It is important to note that several studies have reported normative data for the YBT-LQ in various athletic and military populations. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] YBT-LQ scores may differ between athletes based on sport participation, gender, or competition level; therefore a clinician should compare their patient's scores with those from a homogeneous sample. 16,18,24 Only two studies have reported normative data for collegiate VB players with each study marked by limitations.…”