Affiliations: [a] Exercise and Sport Science Department, School of
Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Robert Lockie, School of Environmental and
Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, PO Box 127, Ourimbah, NSW 2258,
Australia. Tel.: +61 2 4349 4428; Fax: +61 2 4348 4145; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Team sport athletes require dynamic stability in
unilateral activities for their sports, which necessitates some degree of knee
flexion and extension strength. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible
association of knee extension and flexion strength with dynamic stability, as
measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). METHODS: Sixteen male team sport athletes completed the SEBT, which involves a series of
unilateral squats with the subject maximally reaching with the other leg in
eight directions. Knee muscle strength was measured isokinetically both
concentrically (60°/s, 180°/s, 240°/s) and eccentrically
(30°/s). Subjects were divided into better and lesser groups based on
mean functional reach distance. A 1-way analysis of variance (p⩽ 0.05)
determined between-group differences in reach distances and relative torque. RESULTS: Subjects with better dynamic stability generated greater knee
extensor torque concentrically at 180°/s for the right leg, and at all
speeds for the left leg. The effects of knee strength were particularly
noteworthy for the left leg, as subjects with better dynamic stability reached
significantly further across all 8 directions. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that greater knee extensor strength may enhance unilateral dynamic
stability in team sport athletes.
