Ability of Side Hop Test to Predict Deficits in Dynamic Balance Control and Isometric Strength of Hip and Ankle Muscles in Recreational Male Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: The side hop test (SHT) is widely used by physiotherapists to assess functional limitations in athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Determining if diminished SHT performance correlates with specific component deficits could enhance the test's clinical value. Therefore, this study investigates the association between SHT performance, dynamic balance control, and isometric strength of hip and ankle muscles in recreational male athletes with CAI. The aim is to examine the SHT’s ability to predict deficits in dynamic balance control and isometric strength of hip and ankle muscles in these individuals. Methods: Sixty male athletes with CAI (mean age 29.6 ± 6.2 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. The SHT score, dynamic balance control (using the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test [MSEBT]), and maximal isometric strength for invertor, evertor, hip abductor, and external rotator muscles (using hand-held dynamometry) were assessed. Results: Pearson correlation coefficient analysis revealed fair negative correlations between the SHT and MSEBT in the posteromedial (PM) (r = -0.43, P < 0.001) and posterolateral (PL) (r = -0.26, P = 0.04) reach directions. A linear regression model showed that SHT scores accounted for only 19% of the variance in the PM reach direction and 7% in the PL reach direction. Conclusion: The SHT may not be a reliable predictor of deficits in dynamic balance control and isometric strength of hip and ankle muscles in recreational male athletes with CAI.