Comparison of Female Collegiate Athletes and College Age Cohort in Tuck Jump Assessment

Jumping and Landing Kinematics in Spanish Female Soccer Players: A Comparison Between Elite and Non-Elite Athletes

Landing from a jump has been identified as a common situation of increased risk in sport and the tuck jump assessment (TJA) has been proposed for a comprehensive examination of landing mechanics. However, group-specific data on female athletes are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the movement mechanics during a TJA in Spanish female soccer players and to explore potential differences between players of different performance levels. A total of 96 (elite and non-elite) female soccer players performed a TJA, and a rater visually graded the technique using the modified 10-item scoring system (0, 1, or 2 for "none", "small", or "large" flaws). Descriptive statistics were calculated. The association between the flaws and performance groups was assessed using the chi-square test. Almost 90% of all players involved were categorized with small and large flaws for the item "Lower extremity valgus at landing". The proportion of players categorized with technical flaws was also high for "Foot contact timing not equal" (85%) and "Does not land in same footprint" (82%). Differences between elite and non-elite players were only found for "Foot placement not parallel" and "Excessive landing contact noise" (p < 0.008). These results reveal the importance of implementing training programs to reduce jumping and landing deficits in female soccer players, independently of the players' level of performance.

Limited positive effects on jump-landing technique in girls but not in boys after 8 weeks of injury prevention exercise training in youth football

PURPOSE

To evaluate changes in jump-landing technique in football-playing boys and girls after 8 weeks of injury prevention training.

METHODS

Four boys' and four girls' teams (mean age 14.1 ± 0.8 years) were instructed to use either the original Knee Control injury prevention exercise programme (IPEP) or a further developed IPEP, Knee Control + , at every training session for 8 weeks. Baseline and follow-up testing of jump-landing technique included drop vertical jumps (DVJ), assessed subjectively and with two-dimensional movement analysis, and tuck jump assessment (TJA).

RESULTS

Only minor differences in intervention effects were seen between the two IPEPs, and results are therefore presented for both intervention groups combined. At baseline 30% of the boys showed good knee control during the DVJ, normalised knee separation distances of 77-96% (versus hip) and a median of 3 flaws during the TJA. Among girls, 22% showed good knee control, normalised knee separation distances of 67-86% and a median of 4 flaws during the TJA. At follow-up, boys and girls performed significantly more jumps during TJA. No changes in jump-landing technique were seen in boys, whereas girls improved their knee flexion angle at initial contact in the DVJ (mean change + 4.7°, p < 0.001, 95% CI 2.36-6.99, d = 0.7) and their TJA total score (- 1 point, p = 0.045, r = - 0.4).

CONCLUSION

The study showed small positive effects on jump-landing technique in girls, but not in boys, after 8 weeks of injury prevention training.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials gov identifier: NCT03251404.

Jump performance in male and female football players

PURPOSE

To examine differences between men and women football players in clinically feasible jumping measures.

METHODS

Female football players (N = 46, ages 16-25) were matched based on age, training frequency, and playing position with 46 male players. All players performed the tuck jump and drop vertical jump (DVJ). DVJ was assessed quantitatively for valgus knee motion and probability of a high peak knee abduction moment (pKAM), as well as sagittal plane hip, knee, and ankle angles, and qualitatively with visual assessment of the player's knees upon landing; graded as good, reduced, or poor control.

RESULT

Women had higher total tuck jump scores (5 ± 2) (more technique flaws), than men (3 ± 2, P < 0.01). The quantitative analysis of the DVJ found that men had greater asymmetries between limbs, but women landed bilaterally in more knee valgus (interaction P = 0.04, main effect of sex P = 0.02). There was no difference in pKAM (interaction n.s.). Women also landed in less hip flexion (P = 0.01) and ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.01) than men. The qualitative DVJ analysis found that more women (48%) had poor knee control compared to men (11%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that women perform worse on the tuck jump assessment than men. The results support previous findings that women land in more knee valgus than men, but also found that men may have larger asymmetries in knee valgus. These results from clinically feasible measures provide some suggestions for clinicians to consider during ACL reconstruction rehabilitation to enhance performance.