Impact of hip abductor and adductor strength on dynamic balance and ankle biomechanics in young elite female basketball players

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate, in an isolated and relative manner, hip abductor (ABD) and adductor (AD) strength and to study the extent to which these factors are related to balance and ankle dorsiflexion mobility in young elite female basketball players. Sixty trainee-level elite female basketball players (13–18 years old), who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study, were divided into three subgroups based on competition age divisions (U14, U16, U18). Isometric hip ABD and AD strength in each leg was evaluated using the ForceFrame Strength Testing System, also calculating the strength ratio and imbalance between legs. Y Balance Test (YBT) and ankle dorsiflexion mobility were also assessed. ANOVA was used for between-group differences analysis. Likewise, the impact of hip strength on balance and ankle mobility was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. A linear regression model for dependent variables was created with all variables that exhibited significant correlations. A between-group comparison analysis for the three competition age subgroups (U14, U16, U18) revealed non-significant differences (p > 0.005) for the hip strength variables except for hip ABD strength. The correlation study showed low-moderate effect sizes for hip ABD (in both the contralateral and homolateral limb) and AD strength (only the homolateral limb) with YBT and ankle dorsiflexion. However, when performing a regression model, only right hip ABD significantly predicted right limb YBT scores (β = 0.592, p = 0.048). The present study indicated that, although both hip ABD and AD strength correlate with balance and ankle mobility with low-moderate effect sizes, only hip ABD strength was found to significantly predict YBT scores. Therefore, the potential role of hip ABD strength in particular, but also hip AD strength, for monitoring and enhancing balance and ankle mobility outcomes, should be taken into consideration when designing and implementing preventive strategies for lower-limb injuries.

Do Hip and Ankle Strength as well as Range of Motion Predict Y-Balance Test - Lower Quarter Performance in Healthy Males?

“…One of our most wondering findings was the noticeable higher predictive values of YBT-LQ performance in stance rather than kicking leg. A similar situation was noted in studies by other authors 25,31 , who suggested that regression models were significant for only one leg. In the remaining trials, only measurements and analysis were considered for one limb instead of both probably due to the belief that balance does not differ significantly between the dominant and non-dominant limbs 48 .…”

“…In Nelson's 6 kinetic model, hip ABD moment explained 23.4% of PM reach distance whereas PL direction performance was not predicted by hip ABD moment. The findings achieved by Dominguez-Navarro et al 25 also indicated that hip abductor strength was a significant predictor of composite score in young elite female basketball players. However, these results were only significant for right limb and, moreover, they analysed prediction of composite score without splitting into directional reaches.…”

“…Hip ABD strength has previously been shown as a significant predictor of YBT-LQ performance 6,23,25 . In our study, the contribution of hip ABD strength in regression models for PM and PL reaches and composite score ranged from R 2 = 0.10 to 0.32.…”

“…In current literature on the subject, we found a few studies in which researchers tried to identify factors predicting YBT-LQ performance. Some authors connected hip strength [23][24][25] and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DF ROM) 26,27 with YBT-LQ performance. Hip external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) ROM have not been linked with the YBT-LQ yet, but they were suggested as a risk factor for various lower limb overuse injuries [28][29][30] .…”

Dynamometric Strength Profile of Hip Muscles in Youth Soccer Players

“…Most existing studies on muscle strength parameters and profiles by position in soccer players have been developed at the knee level, evaluating the concentric and eccentric action of quadriceps and hamstrings [9][10][11]. However, it is also necessary to know these values at the hip level due to the great influence they have on sports performance [12][13][14][15] and lower extremity injuries [16]. There is scarce evidence regarding hip muscle strength values in soccer players by position.…”