Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces

# Background The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used as a rehabilitation exercise. To improve its efficacy, efficiency, and method variations, the Y-Balance Test (YBT) with anterior (A), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions of the SEBT has been recommended. Electromyo...

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Main Authors: Navpreet Kaur, Kunal Bhanot, Germaine Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North American Sports Medicine Institute 2022-04-01
Series:International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.32593
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author Navpreet Kaur
Kunal Bhanot
Germaine Ferreira
author_facet Navpreet Kaur
Kunal Bhanot
Germaine Ferreira
author_sort Navpreet Kaur
collection DOAJ
description # Background The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used as a rehabilitation exercise. To improve its efficacy, efficiency, and method variations, the Y-Balance Test (YBT) with anterior (A), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions of the SEBT has been recommended. Electromyographic activity has been reported to change when the same task is performed on various surfaces. # Hypothesis/Purpose To compare the EMG activity of trunk and LE muscles during the performance of the YBT on stable and unstable surfaces. # Study Design Cross-Sectional study. # Methods Healthy adults with no history of chronic ankle instability were recruited for the study. Surface electromyography was collected for bilateral (ipsilateral \[i\] and contralateral \[c\]) rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EOB), erector spinae (ES). While, gluteus maximus (GMAX), gluteus medius (GMED), medial hamstrings (MH), biceps femoris (BF), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), anterior tibialis (AT), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) on the stance leg (ipsilateral side), during the performance of the YBT. The unstable surface was introduced using a Thera-Band stability trainer. Differences in electromyography were examined for each reach direction and muscle between the stable and unstable surfaces (p≤ 0.05). # Results Twenty (10 male, 10 female) subjects participated (age: 27.5 ± 4.0 years, height:167 ± 1.0 cm, weight: 66.5 ± 13.0 kg, body fat: 14.1 ± 6.2%). Significantly higher muscle activity for the unstable surface (p<0.05) with moderate to large effect sizes were observed for the following muscles in the A direction: GMED, GMAX, VM, RF, and MG; PL direction: iEOB, iES, cES, GMED, BF, VM, RF, and MG; and PM direction iEOB, iES, GMED, BF, VM, and RF. Significantly higher muscle activity for the stable surface (p = 0.007) was observed in MH muscle in the A direction. No significant differences (p>0.05) between the stable and unstable surfaces were observed in iRA, cRA, cEOB, VL, and AT for any of the directions of the YBT. # Conclusion An increase in muscle activity was observed during YBT on unstable versus stable surfaces for some muscles. # Level of Evidence 2B
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spelling doaj-art-f0c767e1081b4cf192ccf6bcd45261ea2025-02-11T20:27:54ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962022-04-01173Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable SurfacesNavpreet KaurKunal BhanotGermaine Ferreira# Background The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) has been used as a rehabilitation exercise. To improve its efficacy, efficiency, and method variations, the Y-Balance Test (YBT) with anterior (A), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions of the SEBT has been recommended. Electromyographic activity has been reported to change when the same task is performed on various surfaces. # Hypothesis/Purpose To compare the EMG activity of trunk and LE muscles during the performance of the YBT on stable and unstable surfaces. # Study Design Cross-Sectional study. # Methods Healthy adults with no history of chronic ankle instability were recruited for the study. Surface electromyography was collected for bilateral (ipsilateral \[i\] and contralateral \[c\]) rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EOB), erector spinae (ES). While, gluteus maximus (GMAX), gluteus medius (GMED), medial hamstrings (MH), biceps femoris (BF), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), anterior tibialis (AT), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) on the stance leg (ipsilateral side), during the performance of the YBT. The unstable surface was introduced using a Thera-Band stability trainer. Differences in electromyography were examined for each reach direction and muscle between the stable and unstable surfaces (p≤ 0.05). # Results Twenty (10 male, 10 female) subjects participated (age: 27.5 ± 4.0 years, height:167 ± 1.0 cm, weight: 66.5 ± 13.0 kg, body fat: 14.1 ± 6.2%). Significantly higher muscle activity for the unstable surface (p<0.05) with moderate to large effect sizes were observed for the following muscles in the A direction: GMED, GMAX, VM, RF, and MG; PL direction: iEOB, iES, cES, GMED, BF, VM, RF, and MG; and PM direction iEOB, iES, GMED, BF, VM, and RF. Significantly higher muscle activity for the stable surface (p = 0.007) was observed in MH muscle in the A direction. No significant differences (p>0.05) between the stable and unstable surfaces were observed in iRA, cRA, cEOB, VL, and AT for any of the directions of the YBT. # Conclusion An increase in muscle activity was observed during YBT on unstable versus stable surfaces for some muscles. # Level of Evidence 2Bhttps://doi.org/10.26603/001c.32593
spellingShingle Navpreet Kaur
Kunal Bhanot
Germaine Ferreira
Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
title Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_full Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_fullStr Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_short Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_sort lower extremity and trunk electromyographic muscle activity during performance of the y balance test on stable and unstable surfaces
url https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.32593
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AT germaineferreira lowerextremityandtrunkelectromyographicmuscleactivityduringperformanceoftheybalancetestonstableandunstablesurfaces