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Abstract

Mobility and stability measurements provide valuable insight into performance capacity and potential injury risk in athletes. Sex-based biomechanical differences may influence these factors; however, the magnitude of these differences remain unclear, partly due to the underrepresentation of female athletes in published research. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine differences in upper and lower body mobility and stability among NCAA Division I female (WLAX) and male (MLAX) lacrosse student-athletes. METHODS: Thirty-three WLAX (19.1 ± 1.1 y, 169.42 ± 7.2 cm, 67.6 ± 10.0 kg) and 44 MLAX (19.8 ± 1.4 y, 182.36 ± 7.0 cm, 82.2 ± 6.2 kg) student-athletes completed assessments of hip internal and external rotation (HIR and HER, respectively), shoulder flexion and internal and external rotation (SF, SIR, and SER, respectively), and lower and upper quadrant Y-Balance (LQYBT and UQYBT, respectively). HIR, HER, SF, SIR, and SER were measured using a goniometer and standardized procedures and landmarks on the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) limbs. Lower body stability was assessed using the LQYBT with participants standing on one foot (hands on hips) while reaching with the contralateral foot in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions. Upper body stability was assessed using the UQYBT which was performed in a push-up position with one hand centered on a platform, while the contralateral hand reached in the medial, superolateral, and inferolateral directions. LQYBT and UQYBT composite scores were calculated and normalized to limb length for both the D and ND limbs. Sex-based differences were analyzed using independent t-tests using SPSS version 31 (IBM Corp) with an alpha significance of p < 0.05. RESULTS: WLAX showed significantly higher HIR, SF, and SER for the D and ND limb and significantly higher SIR on the ND limb compared to MLAX (p < 0.01; d = 0.55 - 1.24). MLAX showed significantly higher UQYBT on the D and ND limbs compared to WLAX (p < 0.01; d = 0.63 - 0.80). CONCLUSION: WLAX demonstrated higher mobility whereas MLAX demonstrated higher upper body stability. These findings highlight the potential differences in mobility and stability profiles in the lower and upper extremity between MLAX and WLAX. Future research is needed to explore if these differences impact sport performance and injury risk.

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