title: Postural Stability During Single-Leg Stance: A Preliminary Evaluation of Noncontact Lower Extremity Injury Risk.
abstract: Study Design Controlled laboratory study with a prospective cohort design. Background Postural stability deficits during single-leg stance have been reported in persons with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, ACL reconstruction, and chronic ankle instability. It remains unclear whether impaired postural stability is a consequence or cause of these injuries. Objectives To prospectively investigate whether postural stability deficits during single-leg stance predict noncontact lower extremity injuries. Methods Fifty injury-free female athletes performed a transition task from double-leg stance to single-leg stance with eyes closed. Center-of-pressure displacement, the main outcome variable, was measured during the first 3 seconds after the time to a new stability point was reached during single-leg stance. Noncontact lower extremity injuries were recorded at a 1-year follow-up. Results Six participants sustained a noncontact ACL injury or ankle sprain. Center-of-pressure displacement during the first 3 seconds after the time to a new stability point was significantly increased in the injured (P = .030) and noninjured legs (P = .009) of the injured group compared to the respective matched legs of the noninjured group. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis revealed significant discriminative accuracy between groups for the center-of-pressure displacement during the first 3 seconds after the time to a new stability point of the injured (AUC = 0.814, P = .015) and noninjured legs (AUC = 0.897, P = .004) of the injured group compared to the matched legs of the noninjured group. Conclusion This preliminary study suggests that postural stability measurements during the single-leg stance phase of the double- to single-leg stance transition task may be a useful predictor of increased risk of noncontact lower extremity injury. Further research is indicated. Level of Evidence Prognosis, level 4. J Orthop Sports PhysTher 2016;46(8):650-657. Epub 3 Jul 2016. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6278.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dingenen
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malfait
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nijs
authors.forename: Koen H E
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Peers
authors.forename: Styn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vereecken
authors.forename: Sabine M P
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Verschueren
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Filip F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Staes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056352:Athletes; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: injury prevention; lower extremity; postural stability; screening