Clinical measures associated with dynamic balance and functional movement

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Decreased balance and impaired functional movement are associated with increased injury risk.
• Assessing dynamic balance and functional movement is crucial for injury prevention in active populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the association between specific physical fitness measures and performance on the Y-Balance Test (YBT) and Functional Movement Screen (FMS) in healthy soldiers.
• To identify key predictors of dynamic balance and functional movement for personalized intervention programs.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-four healthy active duty soldiers were assessed using 17 tests measuring strength, power, flexibility, endurance, and balance.
• Pearson correlation and hierarchical stepwise regression analyses were used to identify significant associations between variables and YBT/FMS scores.

Main Results:

• A four-variable model explained 51% of the variance in YBT scores, highlighting the importance of FMS lunge/trunk mobility, hop test performance, and gastrocnemius flexibility.
• Another four-variable model explained 50% of the variance in FMS scores, emphasizing YBT anterior reach, crossover hop distance, hamstring flexibility, and self-reported function.

Conclusions:

• Specific physical fitness components significantly predict performance on the Y-Balance Test and Functional Movement Screen in soldiers.
• These predictive models can guide physical fitness leaders and clinicians in developing and evaluating personalized injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies.