Y–Balance Test in Female Gymnasts

Lucija Milčić

, Elena Milenković

and Josipa Radaš

Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Gymnastics Club”Aura”, Zagreb, Croatia

Keywords: Rhythmic Gymnastics, Balance, Dominant Leg, Non-Dominant Leg, Postural Control.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the differences in dynamic balance between the legs and potential

asymmetry in rhythmic gymnasts. The sample consisted of six rhythmic gymnasts competing at the senior

level A category and members of the Croatian National Team. Dynamic balance was assessed using the "Y

Balance" test. Each gymnast performed the test in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions,

following a practice attempt. Data analysis was conducted using Statistica 14. Differences in Y Balance test

performance between the dominant and non-dominant leg were evaluated using the T-test for dependent

samples, as well as the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test for variables that did not follow a normal distribution.

The results revealed a statistically significant difference in the posteromedial reach distance between the

dominant and non-dominant legs, indicated by variables RRDPMD and RRDPMND (p=0.021). This disparity

was evident in both absolute and relative terms, with the dominant leg demonstrating a greater reach distance.

These findings suggest that the gymnasts exhibit a preference for one leg over the other, potentially affecting

performance and increasing the risk of injury. Monitoring these asymmetries is crucial for developing targeted

training interventions to enhance balance and functional performance.

1 INTRODUCTION

Rhythmic gymnastics is a difficult and complex sport

which requires increased space-time coordination

between body movements and apparatus handling

(Purenović – Ivanović et al., 2016). Execution of

rhytmic gymnastic elements demands a high level of

physical ability, thus, strong performance relies on

muscular strength and endurance, motor

coordination, and postural balance (Shigaki et al.,

2013). The balance provided by the feet refers to the

capacity to maintain the center of gravity within the

base of support (Duarte & Freitas, 2010).

Balance ability is influenced by genetics, but postural

control continues to evolve throughout a person’s life

(Calavalle et al., 2008). Postural control (or balance)

can be defined statically as the ability to maintain a

base of support with minimal movement, and

dynamically as the ability to perform a task while

maintaining a stable position (Ricotti, 2011; Winter et

al., 1990). It relies on various factors, including

vestibular, retinal, kinesthetic, and tactile systems,

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which complicates investigation and analysis

(Gateva, 2016). There is a sensitive period for balance

stability between the ages of 11 and 14 for girls, and

one year later for boys. (Gateva, 2016). By the ages

of 11 to 13, children can implement strategies similar

to those used by adults to maintain balance in both

stationary and moving conditions (Hatzitaki et al.

2002; Muller et al. 1992; Shumway-Cook and

Wollacott 1985). Two of the three main groups of

body exercises heavily rely on this ability. The Y

Balance Test is a dynamic stability assessment that is

recognized for its efficiency and clinical applicability

in accurately evaluating lower limb neuromuscular

control (Fratti Neves et al., 2017). Most exercises in

rhythmic gymnastics require an above-average ability

to maintain balance while standing on a very small

support surface; what causes additional difficulty is

that the gymnast is required to keep the free leg in

different demanding positions and move the

apparatus (FIG, 2022; Sobera & Rutkowska –

Kucharska, 2019). In balance exercises, it is common

to hold a position with a minimal support surface,

Mil

c, L., Milenkovi

c, E. and Radaš, J.

Y–Balance Test in Female Gymnasts.

DOI: 10.5220/0013094200003828

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2024), pages 283-288

ISBN: 978-989-758-719-1; ISSN: 2184-3201

283

while during rotations, the same balance positions are

executed with a 360°, 720°, or even greater degree of

rotation.(Gateva, 2016). Many studies compared the

balance ability of athletes from different sports,

underlying that gymnasts tended to have the best

balance ability (Bressel, Yonker, Kras & Heath,

2007; Hrysomallis, 2011; Scursatone, Caire, Cerrina,

& Pizzigalli, 2015). Authors Purenović-Ivanović et

al. (2023) investigated balance ability and

performance scores in rhythmic gymnastics on a

sample of 126 various level rhytmic gymnasts. Study

of Root et al., (2019), examines the participation

characteristics and the impact of specialization level

on fitness and functional performance in 131 youth

gymnasts (84 females, 47 males; avg. age 10.9 years).

Authors Kyselovičova and Zemkova (2024) analyzed

performance adaptations over two years of training in

a 22-year-old elite aerobic gymnast, using tests for

postural coordination, balance, jumping, leg strength,

and the Wingate test. Study of Overmoyer and Reiser

(2015), aimed to explore the relationship between

flexibility, flexibility asymmetries, and Y Balance

Test performance in 20 healthy active young adults (9

men, 11 women; avg. age 21.9 years), who completed

9 lower extremity active range of motion (AROM)

tests and the Y Balance Test in one session.

Furthermore, research of Gateva (2016), establishes a

database for static balance in rhythmic gymnastics by

testing 60 competitors across five age groups using

four balance tasks, with amplitude deviation

measured on a force platform during 10-second trials.

Santos et al. (2015), aimed to assess lower limb

flexibility and potential asymmetry indexes in 30

Junior 1st Division gymnasts in Portugal, with a mean

age of 13.73 years. In study of Simas Frutuoso et al.

(2016), the aim was to evaluate how lateral preference

in the lower extremities affects anthropometric

measurements, range of motion, and isokinetic torque

in rhythmic gymnastics athletes. The objective of

study of Santos et al. (2023), was to evaluate upper

and lower limb balance and lower limb static strength

in 12 female rhythmic gymnasts (ages 7-17) during

the pre-season, using the Upper Body Test, Lower

Body Test, and manual dynamometry. Aydin et al.

(2023), analyzed hand-foot/leg preferences in 75 final

routines of 28 elite rhythmic gymnasts from the 2021

World Cup and European Championships, focusing

on body and apparatus difficulties and preferred side

usage. Two groups of female rhythmic gymnasts

(N=40) from the Greek national team, aged 11-12 and

13-15, were tested to (a) identify perceptual and

motor abilities linked to performance across age

groups, and (b) assess the predictive power of these

abilities between the groups (Kioumourtzoglou et al.,

1998). The aim of this the investigation was to find

out the difference in dynamic balance between legs

and potentional assimetry in rhytmic gymnasts.

2 MATERIAL AND METHODS

2.1 Sample of Subjects

The sample of subjects consists of 6 rhythmic

gymnasts who compete at level A of the senior

category and are also a part od Croatian National

Team. he limited number of participants in this study

reflects the high level of expertise required in

gymnastics, which restricts the pool of athletes

eligible for inclusion. The condition for participation

in the research was the absence of injuries or painful

conditions of the lower extremities, which could

negatively affect the performance of the test or further

worsen the current condition. Before conducting the

research, the protocol and possible risks of the tests

were explained to all gymnasts and declarations of

voluntary participation were signed.

2.2 Measurement Protocol and Test

The research was conducted in the "Stoja" sports hall

in Pula, where gymnasts spent two weeks at a summer

camp. Since the testing was carried out during the

preparatory period of the pre-competition season, all

of the gymnasts were on the same fitness level.

Before carrying out the tests, the gymnasts warmed-

up for an hour, so that the conditions were as close as

possible to daily training. After warming up, one by

one the gymnast came to the measurer, followed by a

demonstration and description of the performance of

the "Y balance" test. Before the performance of the

test, each gymnast had a trial attempt of the

performance.

2.3 Y Balance Test

Since the test platform was not available, tapes glued

to the ground were used, according to the prescribed

rules of installation and execution and with values in

centimeters marked on each tape. The test is performed

in the anterior (Figure 1), posteromedial (Figure 2) and

posterolateral (Figure 3) directions, whereby the angle

between the posterior arms must be 90°, and the angle

between the anterior and posterior arm must be 135°.

Before performing the test, the length of the lower

limbs of the gymnasts was measured, which will later

be necessary for the calculation of the absolute and

relative reach distance, calculated according to the

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formula: absolute reach length = (reach 1 + reach 2 +

reach 3)/3 (cm) and relative reach length = absolute

reach length/limb length*100 (Walker, 2016). Each

gymnast had 3 attempts to perform the test, with the

order of performing each test as follows: dominant leg

anteriorly, non-dominant leg anteriorly, dominant leg

posteromedially, non-dominant leg posteromedially,

dominant leg posterolaterally and non-dominant leg

posterolaterally (Linek et al., 2017). All 3 performance

attempts are first performed on one limb, and only then

on the other.

Figure 1: Y – balance test anteriorly.

Figure 2: Y – balance test posteromedially.

Figure 3: Y – balance test posterolaterally

2.4 Data Analysis

For easier use and data processing, all measurement

data were entered into a Microsoft Excel table.

Statistica 14 was used for further data analysis. Mean,

minimum, maximum and standard deviation were

calculated as indicators of descriptive statistics, while

Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check the

normality of the distribution. The results showed that

the distribution of the data is normal, except for

variables ARDAND cm , ARDANND cm, RRDAND

% , RRDANND %, ARDPMD cm, ARDPMND cm,

which are not normally distributed. For the

differences in the performance of the Y balance test

between the dominant and non-dominant leg the T-

test for dependent samples was used, as well as

Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test for variables that are

not normally distributed.

3 RESULTS

Table 1 presents basic descriptive parameters for

various reach distances in different directions

(anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral) for both

dominant and non-dominant legs.

Table 1: Descriptive Statistics.

Variable Valid N Mean

Minimu

Maximu

Std.Dev

Height c

6 169.167 163.000 178.000 6.039

length R leg

6 88.167 84.000 93.000 3.724

Length L leg

6 88.000 84.000 93.000 3.536

ARDAND

6 61.483 56.700 69.500 5.012

ARDANND

6 60.667 55.000 70.000 5.508

RRDAND % 6 70.200 64.800 74.700 3.248

RRDANND

6 68.900 62.900 75.300 4.590

ARDPMD

6 94.217 69.500 112.000 16.295

ARDPMND

6 89.883 69.000 103.000 15.052

RRDPMD % 6 106.967 82.700 127.300 19.137

RRDPMND

6 102.233 79.700 119.300 17.485

ARDPLD c

6 90.817 70.300 106.300 13.465

ARDPLND

6 91.167 68.300 120.300 18.708

RRDPLD % 6 103.150 83.700 120.700 16.188

RRDPLND

6 103.783 81.300 137.500 22.149

Y–Balance Test in Female Gymnasts

285

In Table 2 are the results of T-test for dependent

samples. There is only statistically sgnificiant

difference in variables RRDPMD and RRDPMND

p=0.021.

Table 2: T-test for Dependent Samples.

Variable

Mean

Std.Dv.

Confi-

dence

-95,000%

Confi-

dence

+95,000%

RRDPMD %

106.967 19.137

RRDPMND %

102.233 17.485 6 5 0.021* 1.052 8.414

ARDPLD cm

90.817 13.465

ARDPLND cm

91.167 18.708 6 5 0.906 -7.618 6.918

RRDPLD %

103.150 16.188

RRDPLND %

103.783 22.149 6 5 0.855 -9.090 7.823

Note. *Marked differences are significant at p < .05000

In Table 3 are the results of Wilcoxon Matched

Pairs Test for variables which are not normally

distributed. There is statistically significant

difference between variables ARDPMD cm &

ARDPMND cm.

Table 3: Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test.

Pair of variables

No. of

Non-ties

Percent

v < V

p-value

ARDAND cm & ARDANND cm

6 33.333 0.408 0.683

RRDAND % & RRDANND %

6 33.333 0.408 0.683

ARDPMD cm & ARDPMND cm

6 0.000* 2.041 0.041

4 DISCUSSION

Dynamic balance and stability, which are essential for

gymnasts during a variety of routines and

performances, are evaluated by the Y-Balance Test. It

assesses an athlete's ability to stay balanced while

reaching in different directions, modeling the

demands of gymnastics. Postural stability is essential

in rhythmic gymnastics during balance positions, as

well as in pirouettes and jumps (Calavalle et al.,

2008). Present the absolute and relative reach

distances reached in the anterior, posteromedial, and

posterolateral directions. Results shows that

gymnasts' dominant and non-dominant legs had

significantly different posteromedial reach distances,

both in absolute and relative terms. Bilateral

asymmetry in lower limb girth among both juvenile

and adult gymnasts, attributing this to the dominance

of exercises performed on the preferred side during

training (Douda et al., 2002). The findings showed

that in the posteromedial direction, the dominant leg's

absolute reach distance was larger than the non-

dominant leg. This suggests that when extending

backward and inward, the gymnasts had greater

stability and balancing abilities on their dominant

side. The reason for this is that throughout training

and performance routines, the dominant leg is used

constantly, perhaps resulting in improved strength

and proprioception. The main results revealed that

86.7% of the gymnasts exhibited significant

flexibility asymmetry between their dominant and

non-dominant limbs (Batista Santos et al., 2015).

Similarly, the relative reach distance results indicated

a noticeable difference between the dominant and

non-dominant legs in the same posteromedial

direction. This implies that even while the dominant

leg works effectively, the non-dominant leg might not

be able to attain a same degree of stability and

balance. The preferred limb exhibited greater thigh

girth and anatomical cross-sectional area, increased

ankle dorsiflexor range of motion, and higher hip

flexor torque at 60°·s⁻¹, as well as greater

plantarflexor torque at 180°·s⁻¹ compared to the non-

preferred limb (Simas Frutuoso et al., 2016). Reach

distance ratios may indicate a dependence on the

dominant leg, which may lead to an unequal

development of balance and strength. Balance ability

is a significant predictor of performance scores in

rhythmic gymnastics, accounting for 35% of the

variance in advanced-level gymnasts and 24% in the

entire sample (Purenović-Ivanović et al., 2023). For

gymnasts, these variations in reach distances are

crucial since balance and stability are key

components of an efficient rhythmic gymnastics

performance. Asymmetry in reach lengths,

particularly in the posteromedial direction, might

impact skills like landings, jumps, and twists

requiring for stability and lateral movement.

Gymnasts tended to use the left foot for jumps and

balances, while favoring the right foot for rotations

(Aydin et al., 2023). Including specific training

programs that target the non-dominant leg is crucial

to correcting these asymmetries. For the lower limbs,

a significant difference was found only between the

right and left posterolateral patterns (G1=80.33 ±

5.06, G2=76.19 ± 8.14; t(11) = -3.631; p = 0.004; d =

0.63) (Santos et al., 2023). Exercises that improve

posteromedial strength, stability, and flexibility need

to be provided priority. Exercises for lateral balance,

single-leg stability drills, and proprioceptive training

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may fall under this category. In the youngest elite

athletes, eye-hand coordination, whole-body reaction

time, and depth perception accounted for 40% of

overall skill, while in the oldest group, dynamic

balance, kinesthesis, and depth perception explained

56% (Kioumourtzoglou et al., 1998). Unipedal

balance is a challenging skill specific to gymnasts,

whereas bipedal stance is easier and less specific

(Hrysomallis, 2011). There may be a higher chance

of injury due to the observed imbalance in absolute

and relative reach distances between the dominant

and non-dominant legs. In a study by Plisky et al.

(2009), the mean composite YBT scores for healthy

high school and collegiate athletes were as follows:

anterior reach 92.4% of leg length, posteromedial

reach 92.9% of leg length, posterolateral reach 94.0%

of leg length and composite score 93.1% of leg

length. Asymmetry between limbs equal to or greater

than 4 centimeters for the anterior direction and/or

composite score less than 94% is related to

neuromuscular control deficits and a higher

probability of lower limb injuries (Fratti Neves et al.,

2017; Plisky et al., 2009). Overuse injuries, especially

to the ankle and knee, can result from an over-reliance

on the dominant leg. Results indicate that the Y

Balance Test can identify lower extremity flexibility

deficits and asymmetries in the ankle and hip regions

among recreationally active adults; however, it

should be supplemented with additional tests for a

comprehensive assessment of functional movement

and injury risk (Overmoyer & Reiser 2015). The

small sample size, while a limitation, is representative

of the reality in elite gymnastics, where the number

of athletes capable of competing at the highest level

is inherently limited. This emphasizes the need for

future research to consider the challenges of

accessing a larger sample in such a specialized field.

5 CONCLUSIONS

The differences in relative reach distance between

both legs can indicate balance and stability

asymmetries in athletes. In the context of gymnasts,

significant disparities in reach distance may suggest a

preference for one limb over the other, potentially

impacting performance and increasing the risk of

injury. Monitoring these differences can help in

developing targeted training interventions to improve

overall balance and functional performance. A

significant difference in reach distance in the

posteromedial direction may indicate an imbalance in

stability and control during movements that require

weight shifting and lateral support. This is

particularly relevant for gymnasts who frequently

perform turns and transitions.

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