Biomechanical analysis of the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test in healthy young adults

Objectives: To compare kinematic and ground reaction force (GRF) patterns between the dominant and non-dominant limbs in males and females conducting the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST). Design: Descriptive. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Sixteen male and sixteen female healthy and physically active young adults. Main outcome measures: Hand contact and flight times, peak and average vertical (vGRF) and medial-lateral (mlGRF) ground reaction forces, medial-lateral (ML) distance and ML velocity per repetition, three-dimensional (3D) distance and 3D velocity per repetition, and average number of touches per trial during the CKCUEST. Results: Only peak and average mlGRF were statistically different between limbs. Males and females were statistically different across every measured variable. ML and 3D velocities were the only variables strongly correlated to the number of touches achieved. Conclusions: Both sexes were symmetrical between limbs in all but mlGRF; however, there were distinct differences in both kinematics and GRF patterns between sexes that may be attributed to differences in the testing position between males and females.