Influence of Leg Dominance on Postural Balance in Badminton Players: Modified Star Excursion Balance Test Versus Stability Index on Biodex Balance System

Badminton is an asymmetric sport where players hold the racket in their dominant hand. Players need to be able to move quickly in all directions while keeping a stable stance, to prepare for the next movement and react accordingly. With respect to this, the ability to maintain balance is crucial for achieving optimal performance levels in this sport. Poor balance can lead to a higher risk of injuries, accounting for up to 5% of all sports injuries. Injuries often occur during movements that challenge balance, such as turning, changing direction, shifting weight, pivoting, or twisting, accounting for 34% of lower extremity injuries. These injuries tend to occur more frequently on the dominant side of the body, which is usually the right side in most athletes, with a ratio of about 2:1. In contrast, when retrieving a shuttlecock that falls into the back section of the court, players jump off using either their dominant or non-dominant leg. Considering this, the postural balance of badminton players is likely to be affected by these sport-required movements and skill patterns.

With that in mind, Koh Xin Jie, a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science student from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FOAS), under the supervision and mentorship of Associate Professor Dr Ler Hui Yin, has come up with a research project entitled ‘Influence of Leg Dominance on Postural Balance in Badminton Players: Modified Star Excursion Balance Test Versus Stability Index on Biodex Balance System’. This study aims to investigate the influence of leg dominance on postural balance in Klang Valley collegiate badminton players and to analyse the association of the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) with the stability index of the Biodex Balance System (SI-BBS) to evaluate the postural balance of the players.

The research team found that there were no significant differences in postural balance between the dominant and non-dominant legs when assessed using the mSEBT or SI-BBS. Therefore, comparison between limbs can be used in orthopaedic evaluation and clinical practices to compare an injured limb with the uninjured limb, where the uninjured limb serves as a control providing reference values, and also helping to determine the efficiency of rehabilitation. There were also no strong correlations between the mSEBT and the SI-BBS. The mSEBT or the SI-BBS cannot be used as the sole instrument to assess postural balance.