title: Neuromuscular training improves performance on the star excursion balance test in young female athletes.
abstract: METHODS
  Controlled cohort repeated-measures experimental design.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a neuromuscular training program (NMTP) focused on core stability and lower extremity strength would affect performance on the star excursion balance test (SEBT). We hypothesized that NMTP would improve SEBT performance in the experimental group and there would be no side-to-side differences in either group.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The SEBT is a functional screening tool that is used to assess dynamic stability, monitor rehabilitation progress, assess deficits following an injury, and identify athletes at high risk for lower extremity injury. The SEBT requires lower extremity coordination, balance, flexibility, and strength.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty uninjured female soccer players (13 experimental, 7 control) participated. Players trained together as a team, so group allocation was not randomized. The SEBT was administered prior to and following 8 weeks of NMTP in the experimental group and 8 weeks of no NMTP in the control group. A 3-way mixed-model ANOVA was used to determine the effect of group (experimental versus control), training (pretraining versus posttraining), and limb (right versus left).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After participation in a NMTP, subjects demonstrated a significant improvement in the SEBT composite score (mean ± SD) on the right limb (pretraining, 96.4% ± 11.7%; posttraining, 104.6% ± 6.1%; P = .03) and the left limb (pretraining, 96.9% ± 10.1%; posttraining, 103.4% ± 8.0%; P = .04). The control group had no change on the SEBT composite score for the right (pretraining, 95.7% ± 5.2%; posttraining, 94.4% ± 5.2%; P = .15) or the left (97.4% ± 7.2%; 93.6% ± 5.0%; P = .09) limb. Further analysis identified significant improvement for the SEBT in the posterolateral direction on both the right (P = .008) and left (P = .040) limb and the posteromedial direction of the left limb (P = .028) in the experimental group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female soccer players demonstrated an improved performance on the SEBT after NMTP that focused on core stability and lower extremity strength.
authors: Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA. alyson.filipa@cchmc.org
authors: Alyson
authors: A
authors: Filipa
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Byrnes
authors: Mark V
authors: MV
authors: Paterno
authors: Gregory D
authors: GD
authors: Myer
authors: Timothy E
authors: TE
authors: Hewett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology