Balance and Injury in Elite Australian Footballers

Abstract

This project measured pre-season balance ability and determined its relationship to knee and ankle ligament injuries during the season for professional Australian footballers. The balance test involved the players stepping onto a foam balance mat on top of a force plate and maintaining single limb balance. Throughout the playing season, injuries were monitored. The results from two hundred and ten players participating in this project were analysed. During the 2003 season, 8 % (17 out of 210) sustained a knee ligament injury and 10 % (21 out of 210) sustained an ankle ligament injury. Multivariate analysis revealed that pre-season balance ability was a significant independent predictor of ankle ligament injury. Players with low balance ability had at least twice as many ankle ligaments injuries as those with average or good balance ability. Balance ability was not a significant predictor of knee ligament injuries. The height of the players was the only significant independent predictor of knee ligament injuries. Low pre-season balance ability was associated with an increased risk of ankle ligament injury. A modifiable injury risk factor has been identified. Research is now required to determine the optimal training regime to enhance balance ability and whether this translates to a reduction in the incidence of ankle injuries.

Endomorphs Show Higher Postural Sway Than Other Somatotypes Subjects

“…To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first one that investigated the effects of somatotype components on the dynamic balance control in female college students, while most studies have investigated somatotype effect on postural control in static condition. Our results are important because of the high occurrence of sport injury among young college students (30); moreover, any disturbance in the balance control procedure might increase the risk of injury incidence during physical activities (5,6). The results of this study might help to analyze the quality of balance performance in the dynamic and static situations according to the somatotype components of subjects.…”

“…However, some other studies reported poor correlations (16) or even no correlation between developmental factors (height, weight, and body mass index [BMI]) and the composite equilibrium score (17). Most of these studies focused on the static postural control while a dynamic postural control is an important factor to reduce the risk of injury during physical activities (6,7). To the best of our knowledge, no studies had examined the influences of body composition on the balance control in dynamic situation; moreover, there were contradictory results from the few available studies about the effects of somatotype on postural control.…”

“…It has been also defined as the ability to maintain an upright posture and to keep the center of gravity (COG) within the limits of the base of support in an unsteady environment (2,3). An intact balance control strategy is necessary to prevent injury during physical activities such as sport activities (4); it has been shown that balance disturbance may increase the risk of injury during sport activities (5,6). McGuine et al have reported higher injury incidence in athletics with poor postural control (7).…”

Comparison the Effects of Short and Long-Term Static Warm Up on Balance Indices and Motor Performance in Gymnast Athletes

“…The quality of balance control in gymnastics is often used for assessing lower extremity function (6), and is important in athletes (5). In addition to developing the power and performance of athletes, balance also prevents sports injuries in sports activities (7). Therefore, if the athlete obtains good balance, they could maintain good performance and achieve the best results while preventing the occurrence of sport injuries (5,8).…”

The Comparison of the Different Balance Performance of Soccer Players Versus Sedentary

“…So, athletes' balance performance analyzing can be useful to investigate the role of specific factors on postural control [11]. Low balance ability is generally regarding an increased risk of ligament injuries [12,13] and bilateral difference may be a contributing factor to injury and so the detection of a possible asymmetry in balance is important [14]. Some studies have reported an association between diminished balance and injury [15,16,17].…”