title: Star Excursion Balance Test performance and application in elite junior rugby union players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate performance on selected reach directions of the Start Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in an elite underage rugby union population, and determine if differences exist between the forward and back position units. This information may have implications for the application of this test in player injury prevention and management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gymnasium at an elite junior rugby union screening camp.
  
  
  METHODS
  102 healthy male elite rugby union players (age = 17.9 ± 1.1 years, height = 1.83 ± 0.07 m, body mass = 90.5 ± 11.3 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assessed on the Anterior (A), Posterior-medial (PM), and Posterior-lateral (PL) reach directions of the SEBT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normative data for SEBT performance in the A, PM and PL reach directions were established for an elite junior rugby union population. No significant differences in dynamic postural stability were observed between the forward and back position units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides normative SEBT data on an elite junior rugby union population, which enables clinicians to compare player dynamic postural stability and has implications for use in the prevention and management of player injuries.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Irish Rugby Football Union, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: garrett.coughlan@irfu.ie.
authors.forename: Garrett F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Coughlan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: eamonn.delahunt@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delahunt
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: eoghanosullivan.physio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eoghan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: karl.fullam@ucdconnect.ie.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fullam
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Irish Rugby Football Union, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: bgreen@usarugby.org.
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: b.caulfield@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Caulfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Athletic injuries; Postural balance; Rehabilitation