The Biodex Balance System and postural control in female rugby and netball players and dancers

Introduction: Sporting performance is characterised by centre of mass control that prevents loss of balance which may have performance and injury implications. Aim of the study: The aims of this study were to determine postural stability scores in female rugby and netball players and dancers and determine differences in non-dominant and dominant limb performance within each group. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine rugby players, 35 netballers and 30 dancers completed the Athlete Single Leg Stability Testing programme at Level 4 of the Biodex Balance System (BBS: Shirley New York, USA) which quantitatively measures postural control. During the trial the participants maintained a unipedal stance and Antero-posterior Stability Index (APSI), Medio-lateral stability index (MLSI) and Overall Stability Index (OSI) were measured in dominant and non-dominant limbs. Results: For APSI, non-dominant limb a significant difference existed between rugby and netball (P = 0.04), rugby and dance (P = 0.003) and for dominant limb between rugby and dance (P = 0.01). For MLSI, significant difference existed for dominant limb between rugby and dance (P = 0.004) and netball and dance (P = 0.02). For OSI, a significant difference existed for non-dominant limb between rugby and dance (P = 0.02). Conclusions: APSI and MLSI make specific contributions to OSI, and dancers have superior postural control in comparison to rugby players and netballers. However, for MLSI these differences are reduced in the non-dominant limb which may highlight an area for potential training intervention.