Relationship between movement dysfunctions and sports injuries according to gender of youth soccer player

The purpose of this study is to investigate relationship between movement dysfunctions and sports injuries according to gender of youth soccer player. Thirty-eight middle school soccer players participated in this study and they were divided into male (n=19) and female (n=19) groups. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and the Quadriceps-angle (Q-angle) during single-leg squat were analyzed for identifying imbalance and asymmetry of the body, and sports injury questionnaire was examined for 6 months after FMS test. The number of sports injuries did not show significant difference between youth male and female soccer athletes. In FMS results, the scores of overhead squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, and rotary stability and the total scores were no significant differences between gender, but the score for the trunk stability push-up was significantly higher in male group than female group. There was no significant difference of Q-angle values between the left and right legs, but Q-angle value between youth male and female groups significantly showed interaction. Therefore, the present data suggested that FMS and Q-angle during single-leg squat might be indicators to predict and/or prevent sports injury in youth male and female soccer players.

Do hip strength, flexibility and running biomechanics predict dynamic valgus in female recreational runners?

BACKGOUND

Dynamic valgus has been the focus of many studies to identify its association to an increased risk of running-related injuries. However, it is not known which physical and biomechanical variables are associated with this movement dysfunction.

RESEARCH QUESTION

This study aimed to test the correlation between strength, flexibility and biomechanical variables and dynamic valgus in female runners.

METHODS

Twenty-nine healthy females ran on a treadmill at 2.92 m/s and performed strength, range of motion and endurance tests. Pelvic, hip and ankle kinematics were measured with a 3D motion analysis system. Six multiple linear regression models were used to identify the ability of physical and biomechanical variables to predict excursion and peak of contralateral pelvic drop, hip adduction and internal rotation.

RESULTS

Contralateral pelvic drop and hip adduction were positively correlated to ankle eversion and step cadence. Hip internal rotation had a negative correlation with ankle eversion. Despite significance, predictor variables explained less than 30% of dynamic valgus variance during running. No interest variable had significant correlation with the hip strength and hip and ankle passive range of motion.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results showed that distal joint kinematics and spatiotemporal variables should be considered during biomechanical running analysis to identify their possible relationship with joint overload caused by dynamic valgus. Caution should be taken when linking hip disorders during running to posterolateral hip strength and stiffness, core endurance, and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion since no correlation occurred amongstthese variables in this sample of female runners.