SSI Research

Sports specific research includes

The process of evaluating trends, injuries, training practices and outcomes, provides us with leading edge information to manage our client's care and performance more effectively. Honsberger Physiotherapy and SSI's renowned biomechanical approach allows us to identify and eliminate serious predispositions to injury and performance limiting factors.

SSI conducts ongoing research to help evaluate out treatment and performance programs and to enhance an evidence based environment. To enhance our programs, we incorporate our own new and innovative ideas and research with existing cutting edge research in the health care and sports fields.

Please enjoy our site, read, share our research, contribute your research and information and above all strive to enhance the success and performance of all athletes of all ages.  If you have any research questions please contact us at honsberger@honsbergerphysio.com

SSI's research shows the following:

Benefits of a Balance Training Program

A recent study in the American Journal of Sports medicine (2006 July;34(7):1103-11) evaluated a balance training program and its effect on reducing the risk of ankle sprains in high school athletes. Analysis of the results showed that the rate of ankle sprains was significantly lower for subjects in the balance group (6.1% vs. 9.9%) Furthermore, athletes with a history of an ankle sprain had a 2-fold increased risk of sustaining a sprain, whereas athletes who performed the intervention program decreased their risk of a sprain by one half.

At SSI, we have tested the balance of many athletes from a wide variety of sports and age groups. Most recently we tested 219 children aged 3-15 at the 2006 Milliken Mills Children's festival in Markham. Evaluating these children on a unidirectional wobble board showed that over 50% had more touches (i.e. decreased balance) than the average both with the eyes open and closed. These results indicated that balance was an issue for greater than 50% of these children putting them at an increased risk of injury.

Furthermore when comparing these results to those obtained from 40 elite high school level athletes (skiers and snowboarders), the high school aged athletes actually demonstrated poorer balance scores than younger individuals. This result demonstrates that through childhood there is an increased risk of ankle injuries due to worsening balance skills as children age.

Hockey Testing
We tested 74 elite hockey players. This yielded the following results:

  • Pelvis imbalances: 10-12 year old- 20%; 15-20 year olds- 87%
  • Tight hamstrings: 15-20 year olds- 54%
  • Tight hip rotators: 15-20 year olds- 37%

 

Alpine Ski Testing
We tested 55 elite alpine ski racers with the following results:

  • Pelvic imbalances - 56%
  • Limited Ankle Range of Motion (Dorsi-flexion) less than 19 degrees- 33%
  • Weak hip strength- 62%
  • Oblique abdominal strength weakness- 31%
  • Limited Ankle ROM and below average forward proprioception= 69%
  • Weak hip strength and poor below average lateral proprioception=78%
  • Unbalanced pelvis and Below average lateral proprioception = 88%

 

Soccer Testing
28 male rep soccer players tested for biomechanical faults and sports specific weaknesses. Players aged from 11-14 years old with and average of 7 years in soccer. Testing results:

  • 82% with pelvis asymmetries
  • 50% with structural foot dysfunctions
  • 49% with less that 75% spinal range of motion
  • 45% with hip rotation range restrictions
  • 30% with hamstring flexibility of less than 45 degrees
  • 45% with weak core strength
  • 65% with poorer than average balance with eyes closed