Lower limb stabilizing muscle strength imbalance and changes in functional performance and dynamic balance have been reported as predictors of lower extremity injuries. Lower limb functional tests are commonly applied in clinical practice to assess functional performance as well as used as a measure of progression during rehabilitation. Among them, the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and the Single Leg Hop Test (SLHT) stand out as easy-to-apply and low-cost tools.

To evaluate the relationship between lower limb stabilizing muscle strength and performance in functional tests in individuals without history of injury.

This is a quantitative cross-sectional study. As eligibility criteria, male individuals, aged 18 to 30 years, with no history of previous injury to the lower limbs were included. The data collection was divided into two days. On the first day, anamnesis was performed, anthropometric data were collected, familiarization with the muscle strength test was carried out and the functional tests SLHT and SEBT were applied to the Dominant Limb (DL) and Non-Dominant Limb (NDL). On the second day, the strength of the stabilizing muscles of the hip (lateral rotators and abductors), knee (quadriceps and hamstrings) and ankle (inverters and evertors) were assessed using a portable Lafayette® dynamometer stabilized by an inelastic band. Three maximal voluntary isometric contractions were performed, lasting five seconds, with a thirty-second interval between each contraction, bilaterally. The peak strength of each movement was recorded and later normalized by body mass. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 18.0® software, applying the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and the Pearson correlation test. A significance level of α<0.05 was adopted.

20 male individuals were collected. A moderate positive correlation was observed between peak strength of the NDL lateral rotators and hip abductors with performance in the DL SLHT and posteromedial SEBT. In addition, the strength of the knee extensors of both limbs was positively correlated with performance in the SLHT of the NDL. Furthermore, a correlation was observed between peak strength of NDL lateral rotators, DL ankle inverters and hip abductors with NDL posteromedial SEBT.

The maximum isometric strength of the lower limbs stabilizing muscles is related to the performance in functional tests.

The weakness of the stabilizing muscles of the hip and knee is directly related to a lower performance in functional tests, which may cause instability during movements, resulting in biomechanical changes that increase the risk of injury to the lower limbs. Still, the findings of this study elucidate that the performance analysis should take into account the bilateral force for the parameters of rehabilitation and injury prevention.