Establishing Normative Dynamic Postural Control Values in Elite Female Handball Players.
Brice Picot, Jeanne Dury, Guillaume Néron and 2 others
PMID 36237642WHAT IT FOUND
Young elite female handball players typically score 94% on the modified Star Excursion Balance Test composite.
Limb asymmetry rarely exceeds 3%. Clinicians can use these values as baseline targets for injury risk screening and return-to-sport decisions in this specific population.
Key findings
01The composite score for healthy young elite female handball players averages 94.1% of limb length, with a narrow confidence interval suggesting this is a stable normative value.
02Side-to-side asymmetry between dominant and non-dominant limbs is minimal, averaging less than 1%, and does not significantly differ by limb dominance.
03Performance differences between player positions (wing, back, goalkeeper, pivot) are trivial and do not exceed the minimum detectable difference, allowing clinicians to compare players across positions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study population was restricted to young (under 18), elite female handball players, so results may not generalize to males, older athletes, or other sports. Players were tested during a multi-day tournament, meaning fatigue levels could have varied depending on when they were tested relative to the start or end of the competition. The study did not prospectively monitor injuries, so it establishes normative values but does not confirm that deviations from these values directly predict injury occurrence in this specific cohort. Background sports history before handball was not controlled for, which could influence postural control skills.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not apply these normative values to athletes from other sports or different age groups. The study found that handball players scored significantly higher than collegiate athletes in other sports, and performance is influenced by sport-specific demands. Using these numbers for a soccer or volleyball player could lead to incorrect conclusions about their injury risk or readiness.