scholarly journals Accumulative Competitive Season Training Stress Affects Neuromuscular Function and Increases Injury Risk in Uninjured D1 Female Athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy M. Purdom ◽  
Kyle S. Levers ◽  
Jacob Giles ◽  
Lindsey Brown ◽  
Chase S. McPherson ◽  
...  

Previous research has shown that acute competition training stress negatively affects neuromuscular function which can perpetuate a predisposition to injury. This study's aim was to investigate the effect of accumulated competition training stress effect on neuromuscular function and incidence of increased injury risk in uninjured female D1 soccer players. Neuromuscular function was evaluated in fifteen female division I soccer athletes who played >85% of competitive season competitions who were tested for mobility/stability, leg length symmetry, and vertical power at three different points across the competitive season (pre, mid, and post time blocks). Leg length symmetry was measured from the anterior superior iliac spine to the lateral malleolus prior to Y-balance testing. The Y-balance testing measures unilateral anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach achieved in single leg stance using metrics that include L/R normalized composite reach (NCOMP), L/R normalized antiorior reach (NANT), and L/R NCOMP/NANT segmental differences across time. Injury risk was evaluated using validated objective criteria that included: (NCOMP total reach <94% of limb length*3), (NANT reach distance <84% leg length) along with NCOMP and NANT asymmetries >4.0. Maximal vertical power (MVP) was measured via vertical jump. Multiple repeated measures ANOVAs evaluated NCOMP, NANT, MVP, and leg length symmetry across time with LSD post hoc testing when relevant (X ± SD). A significant main effect was found [F(1, 14) = 62.92, p < 0.001; η2 =0.82] with training stress and neuromuscular function without affecting maximal vertical power. Eighty percent of subject's bilateral NCOMP scores fell below the YBT reach standard at midseason (ES = 0.95, p = 0.02) while all subjects NANT reach distance remained below the reach threshold (ES = 0.74, p = 0.003) indicating a 6.5× and 2.5× greater injury risk, respectively. Competition stress affected neuromuscular function without affecting maximal power, which negatively impacted stability and increased injury risk.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0002
Author(s):  
Brad W. Willis ◽  
Seth Sherman ◽  
Trevor Gulbrandsen ◽  
Scott M. Miller ◽  
Nathan Siesener ◽  
...  

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates in adolescent female athletes are 3x greater than males, with peak incidence at 16 and 17 years of age for girls and boys, respectively. As increased knee valgus during a jump landing task has been linked to ACL injury risk, portable motion capture devices offer capabilities of widespread screening to enable targeted prevention programs. Studies examining sex differences in dynamic landing strategies using portable motion capture devices are limited, as many investigations utilize marker-based equipment prohibitive to space, cost and time. Our multidisciplinary team has previously validated a portable markerless motion sensor to determine the knee-ankle-separation-ratio (KASR) at initial contact (IC) and peak flexion (PF) of the drop vertical jump (DVJ). The KASR compares the horizontal distance between knee and ankle joint centers. The purpose of this study is to determine if a portable motion sensor will detect sex differences in KASR at IC and PF during the DVJ when comparing adolescent athletes at ages of peak ACL injury risk. We hypothesize that a portable motion sensor will detect sex differences in the KASR at IC and PF during the DVJ in adolescent athletes during ages of peak ACL injury risk. Methods: A total of 42 healthy adolescent athletes participated. Groups included 16 year-old females (n=26, mean height=65.5±2.9 inches, mean weight=135.9±22.1 pounds) and 17 year-old males (n=16, mean height=70.9±2.9 inches, mean weight=159.2±18.6 pounds). Instructions and demonstration of the DVJ were provided prior to recording, utilizing a 31 cm high jump platform. Participants completed the DVJ by dropping to the ground, followed by an immediate maximal vertical jump as if going for a basketball rebound (Figure 1). Three DVJ were completed, measured by a single portable markerless motion sensor with customized software calculating KASR at IC and PF. The camera was positioned one meter high and three meters in the front of the participant. A three-trial average was utilized for analyses. A KASR of 1.0 signifies the knees being directly over the ankles during landing, with < 1 and > 1 representing dynamic knee valgus and varus, respectively. Sex differences between KASR at IC and PF were analyzed using an independent samples t-test with significance at p<0.05. Results: Adolescent female athletes demonstrated lower KASR values at IC (female=0.98±0.12, male=1.07±0.11, p=0.02) and PF (female=1.01±0.15, male=1.15±0.21, p=0.03) during the DVJ as compared to males. Conclusions/Significance: A portable motion sensor found sex differences in landing mechanics among adolescent athletes during peak ages of ACL injury risk, offering potential for widespread screening and targeted ACL injury prevention programs. The identification of potential ACL injury risk factors, using portable motion sensor technology to inform individually directed prevention programs, may offer declines in health care cost and long-term disability of youth athletes. References: Beck NA, Lawrence JTR, Nordin JD, DeFor TA, Tompkins M. ACL tears in school-aged children and adolescents over 20 years. Pediatrics. 2017; 139(3): e20161877. Mentiplay BF, Hasanki K, Perraton LG< Pua YH, Charlton PC, Clark RA. Three-dimensional assessment of squats and drop jumps using the Microsoft Xbox One Kinect: reliability and validity. J Sports Sci. 2018; 1:1-8. Ford, KR, Myer, GD, Hewett, TE. Reliability of landing 3D motion analysis: implications for longitudinal analyses. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39:2021-2028. Sugimoto D, Myer GD, McKeon JM, Hewett TE. Evaluation of the effectiveness of neuromuscular training to reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury in female athletes: a critical review of relative risk reduction and numbers-needed-to-treat analyses. Br J Sports Med. 2012; 46: 979-988. Ortiz, A, Rosario-Canales, M, Rodriguez, A, Seda, A, Figueroa, C, Venegas-Rios, H. Reliability and concurrent validity between two-dimensional and three-dimensional evaluations of knee valgus during drop jumps. Open Access J Sports Med. 2016;7:65-73. Mizner RL, Chmielewski TL, Toepke JJ, Tofte KB. Comparison of two-dimensional measurement techniques for predicting knee angle and moment during a drop vertical jump.” Clin J Sports Med. 2012; 22(3): 221-227. Hewett TE, Myer GD, Ford KR, et al. Biomechanical measures of neuromuscular control and valgus loading of the knee predict anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in female athletes: a prospective study,” Am J Sports Med. 2005; 33:492-501. Gray AD, Willis BW, Skubic M, et al. Development and validation of a portable and inexpensive tool to measure the drop vertical jump using the microsoft kinect V2. Sports Health. 2017; 9(6):537-544.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Araujo ◽  
Daniel Cohen ◽  
Lawrence Hayes

Abstract Core stability training (CST) has increased in popularity among athletes and the general fitness population despite limited evidence CST programmes alone lead to improved athletic performance. In female athletes, neuromuscular training combining balance training and trunk and hip/pelvis dominant CST is suggested to reduce injury risk, and specifically peak vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) in a drop jump landing task. However, the isolated effect of trunk dominant core stability training on vGRF during landing in female athletes had not been evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate landing kinetics during a drop jump test following a CST intervention in female capoeira athletes. After giving their informed written consent, sixteen female capoeira athletes (mean ± SD age, stature, and body mass of 27.3 ± 3.7 years, 165.0 ± 4.0 cm, and 59.7 ± 6.3 kg, respectively) volunteered to participate in the training program which consisted of static and dynamic CST sessions, three times per week for six weeks. The repeated measures T-test revealed participants significantly reduced relative vGRF from pre- to post-intervention for the first (3.40 ± 0.78 vs. 2.85 ± 0.52 N·NBW-1, respectively [p<0.05, effect size = 0.60]), and second landing phase (5.09 ± 1.17 vs. 3.02 ± 0.41 N·NBW-1, respectively [p<0.001, effect size = 0.87]). The average loading rate was reduced from pre- to post-intervention during the second landing phase (30.96 ± 18.84 vs. 12.06 ± 9.83 N·NBW·s-1, respectively [p<0.01, effect size = 0.68]). The peak loading rate was reduced from pre- to postintervention during the first (220.26 ± 111.51 vs. 120.27 ± 64.57 N· NBW·s-1 respectively [p<0.01, effect size = 0.64]), and second (99.52 ± 54.98 vs. 44.71 ± 30.34 N· NBW·s-1 respectively [p<0.01, effect size = 0.70]) landing phase. Body weight, average loading rate during the first landing phase, and jump height were not significantly different between week 0 and week 6 (p=0.528, p=0.261, and p=0.877, respectively). This study provides evidence that trunk dominant core stability training improves landing kinetics without improving jump height, and may reduce lower extremity injury risk in female athletes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally J. K. Gallena ◽  
Nancy Pearl Solomon ◽  
Arthur T. Johnson ◽  
Jafar Vossoughi ◽  
Wei Tian

Purpose An investigational, portable instrument was used to assess inspiratory (R i ) and expiratory (R e ) resistances during resting tidal breathing (RTB), postexercise breathing (PEB), and recovery breathing (RB) in athletes with and without paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder (PVFMD). Method Prospective, controlled, repeated measures within-subject and between-groups design. Twenty-four teenage female athletes, 12 with and 12 without PVFMD, breathed into the Airflow Perturbation Device for baseline measures of respiratory resistance and for two successive 1-min trials after treadmill running for up to 12 min. Exercise duration and dyspnea ratings were collected and compared across groups. Results Athletes with PVFMD had lower than control R i and R e values during RTB that significantly increased at PEB and decreased during RB. Control athletes' R e decreased significantly from RTB to PEB but not from PEB to RB, whereas R i did not change from RTB to PEB but decreased from PEB to RB. Athletes without PVFMD ran longer, providing lower dyspnea ratings. Conclusion Immediately following exercise, athletes with PVFMD experienced increased respiratory resistance that affected their exercise performance. The difference in resting respiratory resistances between groups is intriguing and could point to anatomical differences or neural adaptation in teenagers with PVFMD. The Airflow Perturbation Device appears to be a clinically feasible tool that can provide insight into PVFMD and objective data for tracking treatment progress.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0015
Author(s):  
Cody R. Criss ◽  
Dustin R. Grooms ◽  
Jed A. Diekfuss ◽  
Manish Anand ◽  
Alexis B. Slutsky-Ganesh ◽  
...  

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries predominantly occur via non-contact mechanisms, secondary to motor coordination errors resulting in aberrant frontal plane knee loads that exceed the thresholds of ligament integrity. However, central nervous system processing underlying high injury-risk motor coordination errors remain unknown, limiting the optimization of current injury reduction strategies. Purpose: To evaluate the relationships between brain activity during motor tasks with injury-risk loading during a drop vertical jump. Methods: Thirty female high school soccer players (16.10 ± 0.87 years, 165.10 ± 4.64 cm, 63.43 ± 8.80 kg) were evaluated with 3D biomechanics during a standardized drop vertical jump from a 30 cm box and peak knee abduction moment was extracted as the injury-risk variable of interest. A neuroimaging session to capture neural activity (via blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal) was then completed which consisted of 4 blocks of 30 seconds of repeated bilateral leg press action paced to a metronome beat of 1.2 Hz with 30 seconds rest between blocks. Knee abduction moment was evaluated relative to neural activity to identify potential neural contributors to injury-risk. Results: There was a direct relationship between increased landing knee abduction moment and increased neural activation within regions corresponding to the lingual gyrus, intracalcarine cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus (r2= 0.68, p corrected < .05, z max > 3.1; Table 1 & Figure 1). Conclusion: Elevated activity in regions that integrate sensory, spatial, and attentional information may contribute to elevated frontal plane knee loads during landing. Interestingly, a similar activation pattern related to high-risk landing mechanics has been found in those following injury, indicating that predisposing factors to injury may be accentuated by injury or that modern rehabilitation does not recover prospective neural control deficits. These data uncover a potentially novel brain marker that could guide the discovery of neural-therapeutic targets that reduce injury risk beyond current prevention methods. [Table: see text][Figure: see text]


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3754-3758
Author(s):  
Akshaya M V ◽  
◽  
Abhilash P V ◽  
Priya S ◽  
◽  
...  

Background: Early identification of the BMI and muscle weakness, can be promoted for developing future rehabilitation by giving proper training in athletes to reduce chance of injuries especially in female athletes. There-for the purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between BMI and hip muscle strength in young female athletes. Materials and Methods: study was conducted among college level female athletes from different colleges of Mangalore, Karnataka, India. 20 college level female athletes between 18-25 years with free from injury and involved at least 2 hrs. per week training session were included in this study. Athletes were excluded if participant had an acute injury during previous six months, had musculoskeletal surgery within the past year. Results: The total number of 20 young female athletes aged between 18- 25 were included in this study. Detailed results enumerated in detail in the results section. Discussion and Conclusion: There was no relationship between BMI and hip muscle strength. Identifying the relationship between BMI and hip muscle strength may help to prevent lower extremity injury risk in female athletes and specific muscle group training can be given as rehabilitation protocol. KEY WORDS: BMI, Hip Muscle Strength, Female Athletes, Lower Extremity Injury.


Author(s):  
Leonidas Petridis ◽  
Gergely Pálinkás ◽  
Zsófia Tróznai ◽  
Bettina Béres ◽  
Katinka Utczás

The aim of this study was to assess the vertical jump performance and the force-velocity profile of elite female handball and volleyball players. Forty-one female athletes were measured, 28 handball players (age: 24.0 ± 3.6 years, body height: 1.75 ± 0.05 m, body mass: 69.0 ± 7.3 kg) and 13 volleyball players (age: 24.1 ± 5.2 years, body height: 1.83 ± 0.07 m and body mass: 74.9 ± 7.9 kg). All players performed unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps (CMJ) on a force platform. The theoretical maximal force ( F0), the theoretical maximum velocity ( v0), the theoretical maximal power ( Pmax), the slope of the F-v relationship ( Sfv) and the force-velocity imbalance ( FVimb) were calculated. Mean value of vertical jump height was 0.33 ± 0.03m, with no difference between handball and volleyball players. Mean values of F0, v0, Pmax, Sfv and FVimb for all players were 31.2 ± 2.6 N/kg, 3.10 ± 0.50 m·s−1, 24.2 ± 3.2 w/kg, -10.32 ± 2.09 Ns/m/kg and 28.1 ± 13.3% respectively. Two players had a low magnitude velocity-deficit, whereas most of the players exhibited a low to high force-deficit. A strong correlation was found between the ratio of measured to optimal F-v slope with the change in the proportion of net force to total force during unloaded and loaded conditions. The findings suggest that it would be beneficial for these athletes to first decrease their force deficit through mainly maximal strength training before implementing training to further maximize power output. Establishment of the F-v profile could be a useful diagnostic tool for coaches to optimize strength training and to design training intervention based on the individual need of each athlete.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (02) ◽  
pp. 113-118
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Gilmer ◽  
Gretchen D. Oliver

AbstractRecently, an emphasis has been placed on understanding how ovarian sex hormones and hormonal contraceptives affect risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The literature presents large discrepancies in whether or not hormonal contraceptives affect ACL injury risk; therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and knee valgus force are different between athletes who do and do not use hormonal contraceptives. Twenty-two female athletes volunteered to participate and were divided into two groups based on their answers to a health history questionnaire: those who use hormonal contraceptives and those who do not. Participants performed a drop vertical jump (DVJ) and single leg crossover dropdown (SCD) at two different time points in their menstrual cycle (pre-ovulatory phase and mid-luteal phase). Kinetic data were collected at 1000 Hz. Independent samples t-tests revealed no significant differences between groups in vertical GRF and knee valgus force at both time points. Findings from this study suggest that hormonal contraceptives do not elicit detectable changes in vertical GRF and knee valgus force. Ultimately, this calls for further studies on the relationship between hormones and ACL injury risk and physicians to consider hormonal screening in addition to neuromuscular and biomechanical screening.


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