Date of Graduation

5-2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Health, Human Performance and Recreation

Advisor/Mentor

Oliver, Gretchen D.

Committee Member

Gorman, Dean R.

Second Committee Member

Lirgg, Cathy D.

Third Committee Member

Bonacci, Jeffrey A.

Fourth Committee Member

Tripp, Patricia M.

Keywords

Health and environmental sciences; Functional performance; Injury tracking; Soccer players; Tuck jumps

Abstract

Division I female soccer athletes have been documented to succumb to the greatest amount of lower extremity injuries, predominately ACL injuries. The risk for a lower extremity injury becomes greater when alterations to functional biomechanics are present. Specifically, the hip abductor strength has a crucial role in maintaining pelvic alignment. The purpose of this study was to determine if the hip abductor strength of a female athlete alters' biomechanics during functional performance. Thirty-two Division I female soccer athletes participated in this study (20+2yrs, 64.5+16.5kg, 166+14cm). Descriptive and anthropological statistics were recorded prior to participation. The athletes' isometric hip abductor strength was obtained through a side-lying protocol immediately followed by a Tuck Jump Assessment. The athletes were tested at three different points during the season (preseason, midseason, and postseason). A repeated measures ANOVA was performed for both the change in the functional performance and hip abductor strength over the season with a Pearson correlation used to analyze the relationship between functional performance and hip abductor strength. The results found significance in the change of strength over the season (Preseason-Midseason p=.000, Midseason-Postseason p=.000, Preseason-Postseason p=.001 ), no significance in the change of functional performance (Preseason-Midseason p=1.000, Midseason-Postseason p=.110, Preseason-Postseason p=.522 ), and a weak negative relationship between hip abductor strength and functional performance (Preseason-Midseason r=-.134, Midseason-Postseason r=-.306, Preseason-Postseason r=-.021). The study concluded hip abductor strength changes over the course of the season with a weak relationship between hip abductor strength and function performance.

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