The Role of Y Balance Test Execution Time in Detecting Chronic Ankle Instability

ABSTRACT: De Maio, M, Festino, E, Di Rocco, F, Cortis, C, Fuchs, PX, Fusco, A, and Papale, O. The role of Y Balance Test execution time in detecting chronic ankle instability. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-Chronic ankle instability (CAI) affects postural balance, and identifying clinical parameters to assess CAI-related impairments remains challenging. This study assessed whether normalized anterior reach distance and normalized execution time during the Y Balance Test can discriminate between the CAI and healthy leg. Fifteen individuals with CAI performed three anterior Y Balance Test trials on CAI and healthy leg. Normalized anterior reach distance (%) and normalized execution time (s·%-1) were recorded. Repeated measures analysis of variance, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted. Significance was set at p < 0.05. The CAI leg showed a lower (p < 0.001) normalized anterior reach distance (83.00 ± 7.85%) than the healthy leg (88.40 ± 7.06%) and a higher (p = 0.039) normalized execution time (CAI = 0.140 ± 0.03 s·%-1) than the healthy leg (0.128 ± 0.02 s·%-1). Logistic regression identified normalized anterior reach distance as a predictor of CAI (odds ratio = 1.13; p = 0.048), whereas normalized execution time did not reach statistical significance. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated a fair discriminatory capacity of normalized anterior reach distance (area under the curve = 0.716; cutoff = 84.11%) and normalized execution time (area under the curve = 0.676; cutoff = 0.132 s·%-1). Although normalized execution time was not a significant predictor of CAI, a high execution time in the CAI leg may reflect altered neuromuscular control and movement strategies. Therefore, combining reach distance with execution time may provide complementary information for assessing dynamic balance in individuals with CAI.