Limb Dominance Does Not Affect Y-Balance Performance in Young Athletes 12 Weeks After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: The Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT-LQ) has been shown to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing lower extremity balance in the athletic populations. It is commonly included in the test battery used to determine athletes' readiness for return to sport. As the dominant limb has been associated with a lower rate of second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), early detection of the effects of limb dominance on YBT-LQ performance can provide insight into athletes' rehabilitation progression and prognosis after ACLR. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether limb dominance would affect YBT-LQ performance in young athletes 12 weeks after ACLR. It was hypothesized that limb dominance would have a significant effect on YBT-LQ performance in this patient population. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: A total of 110 athletes following ACLR were included in this secondary analysis. The dominant limb was defined as the limb that participants would choose to kick a ball. Participants were grouped based on whether the ACLR limb was their self-reported dominant limb (n = 50) or non-dominant limb (n = 60). YBT-LQ performance was assessed at 12 weeks postoperatively as part of a battery of tests. Two separate 2 (group) x 4 (YBT-LQ score) mixed ANOVAs were performed for the surgical and non-surgical limbs. Results: There were no significant group x direction interactions or main effects of surgical limb dominance for the surgical limb (p = 0.527) or non-surgical limb (p = 0.207). Effect sizes were trivial (Cohen's d = 0.03 - 0.17). Conclusion: Limb dominance does not seem to affect YBT-LQ performance in a young athletic population at 12 weeks after ACLR. Level of Evidence: Level 3.