The relationship between concentric hip abductor strength and the performance of the Y-balance test (YBT)

Side lying hip abduction is an action used during manual muscle testing and is also prescribed as a rehabilitation exercise to improve dynamic single leg stability. Little is known about the functional cross-over of this activity. The aims of this study was to investigate the relationship between concentric hip abductor strength and performance of the Y-Balance test (YBT). Forty-five recreational gym users (27 male age 26.2 (8.4) years, 18 female age 27.4 (7.5) years) had dynamic single leg stability and concentric hip abductor peak torque assessed in the non-dominant limb using a YBT and isokinetic dynamometry, respectively. All components of the YBT had a moderate association with concentric hip abductor torque which were greater in the posteromedial (r=0.574, P<0.001) and posterolateral (r=0.657, P<0.001) directions compared to the anterior direction (r=0.402, P=0.006). Greater concentric hip abductor strength is associated with greater scores on components of the YBT, particularly the posterior reaches.