Introduction: Sporting performance is characterized by center of mass control that prevents a loss of balance, which may have performance and injury implications. Aim of the study: The aims of this study were to determine postural stability scores in female rugby and netball players and dancers, and to determine differences in non-dominant and dominant limb performance within each group. Material and methods: A total of 39 rugby players, 35 netballers, and 30 dancers completed the Athlete Single Leg Stability Testing program at Level 4 of the Biodex Balance System (BBS: Shirley, New York, USA), which quantitatively measures postural control. During the trial the participants maintained a unipedal stance and Antero-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI), and Overall Stability Index (OSI) were measured in dominant and non-dominant limbs. Results: For APSI, there was a significant difference in a non-dominant limb between rugby and netball (p = 0.04), and rugby and dance (p = 0.003), and in a dominant limb between rugby and dance (p = 0.01). For MLSI, a significant difference existed in a dominant limb between rugby and dance (p = 0.004), and netball and dance (p = 0.02). For OSI, there was a significant difference in a non-dominant limb between rugby and dance (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The APSI and MLSI values make specific contributions to OSI, and dancers have superior postural control in comparison to rugby players and netballers. However, for MLSI these differences are reduced in the nondominant limb which may highlight an area for a potential training intervention.
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