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THE EFFECT OF STROBOSCOPIC VISION ON THE Y BALANCE TEST LOWER QUARTER IN BALL SPORT COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Abstract

C. Beachy, J. Savage, C. Shumaker, J. Mullikin, B. Molefe

Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, ID

The Y Balance Test Lower Quarter is a dynamic test that requires stability, strength, flexibility and proprioception of the lower quadrant of the body; it requires the person to perform at his/her limit of stability (FMS, 2010). During performance tasks, athletes are often taken to their limits of stability and may be over reliant on visual input for responding to and anticipating stimuli. One method for assessing the impact of a reduced reliance on visual input on stability is with stroboscopic goggles. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of stroboscopic vision on the Y Balance Lower Test Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ) in ball sport collegiate male and female athletes. METHODS: Male (n=1) and female (n=6) participants completed six trials of familiarization with all three reach directions: anterior (A), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL), for both right (R) and left (L) legs. Following familiarization, participants completed three trials in each direction and reach scores were recorded. Limb length measurements were used for calculation of composite scores for both right and left legs. Paired t-tests were used to identify significant (p < .05) differences between composite and anterior reach scores for right and left legs. RESULTS: Significant differences were identified between R leg composite scores with (M = 87.08; SD = 5.97) and without stroboscopic vision (M = 93.93; SD = 6.31), p < 0.01, and R leg A reach scores with (M = 53.16; SD = 6.40) and without stroboscopic vision (M = 63.91; SD = 14.86), p = 0.05. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate significant differences in performance on the R leg for both composite and anterior reach scores when vision is obscured. This may put an athlete at further risk for injury when competing where visual processing is more concerned with reacting to environmental changes. Knowledge of performance on the YBT-LQ with and without stroboscopic vision is important as any deficiencies or asymmetries could be communicated with coaches for training and exercise prescription implications.

Supported by Higher Education Research Council undergraduate student award.

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