Effect of Lower Extremity Tightness on Static, Dynamic Balance, and Functional Mobility in Young Adults

Muscle tightness prejudices young adult’s quality of life. Muscle flexibility, balance, and mobility are the key components for maintaining the optimum function or performance of the body. There is a lot of data available for the older population yet little information exists in context to young adults. Hence this study aimed to determine the effect of lower extremity muscle tightness on static, dynamic balance, and functional mobility in young adults. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 Young adults (50 females and 50 males) aged 18-25 years. Functional reach test (FRT) was used to assess static balance, Y Balance test (YBT) for dynamic balance, and timed up and go test (TUG) for mobility. Muscle length tests were used for testing muscle tightness- Thomas test for iliopsoas, Straight leg raise for hamstring, Ely’s test for rectus femoris, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion for gastrocnemius. Data was analysed for statistical significance by using SPSS software. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation of lower extremity tightness with static, dynamic balance, and mobility. Significant correlation was found between iliopsoas tightness and anterior reach (p-value = 0.005) and hamstring tightness was significantly correlated with the posteromedial (p-value = 0.001), posterolateral directions (p-value = 0.443), and a composite score (p-value = 0.000) of YBT. The anterior direction (p-value = 0.031) had significant correlation with hamstring tightness in young females. No significant correlation of muscle tightness with the FRT and the TUG was found. Lower extremity muscle tightness, especially hamstring tightness affects dynamic balance and doesn’t affect static balance and mobility in young adults.