Different Positions, Different Profiles: Investigating Hip Mobility and Flexibility Across Women's Soccer Positions

Authors

• Victoria Bartusik, Hofstra UniversityFollow
• Logan Burns, Hofstra University
• Jessie Hirsch, Hofstra University
• Giavanna Pandolfi, Hofstra University
• Kevin Dorf, Hofstra University
• Luke Hoffman, Hofstra University
• Dylan Kinzer, Hofstra University
• Brian Aldeus, Hofstra University
• Justyce Quinn, Hofstra University
• Cristina Leek, Long Island University
• Ava Leek, Hofstra University
• Ofra Pottorof, Hofstra University
• Angelo Salomon, Hofstra University
• Brian Deveaux, Hofstra University
• Katie Sell, Hofstra UniversityFollow

Abstract

Quick changes in direction, acceleration, deceleration, and lower-extremity control are key components of a soccer player’s athletic performance, placing varying physical demands on athletes of differing field positions.  Differences in range of motion (ROM), flexibility, and stability may influence a player’s movement and overall performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in hip and hamstring ROM and stability measures by position (defenders, midfielders, and forwards) in Division I (D1) collegiate women’s soccer (WSOC) players. METHODS: Twenty-one D1 WSOC players (19.7 ± 1.6 y; 63.5 ± 5.0 kg; 167.2 ± 5.3 cm) voluntarily participated in pre-season testing where hamstring flexibility was measured using a sit-and-reach test (SnRT), bilateral hip internal and external rotation ROM was measured using standardized goniometer measures, and bilateral lower quadrant stability was measured using a Y-balance test (LQYBT). Bilateral composite scores (CS) for the LQYBT were determined using leg length measures. Differences between positions were examined using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and Tukey’s post-hoc analysis. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 30 (IBM Corp) with significance set at p < 0.05.  RESULTS: Analyses showed no significant multivariate effect across positions (p > 0.05). However, post-hoc testing showed midfielders had significantly lower SnRT scores and left hip internal rotation ROM scores compared to forwards [F(2,18) = 4.76, p = 0.02, partial η² = 0.35 and F(2,18) = 3.75, p = 0.04, partial η² = 0.29, respectively). No post-hoc significant positional differences were observed for left external hip rotation, right internal or external hip rotation, or bilateral LQYBT CS (p > 0.05). Collectively, hip external rotation scores for both limbs were below average compared to recommended normative values. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that hamstring and internal rotation ROM varies across playing position in WSOC players. For the WSOC players in this study pre-season ROM testing may be recommended to help guide warm-up, activation exercises and conditioning practices across different positions and to promote optimal ROM in the hip region.

Recommended Citation

Bartusik, Victoria; Burns, Logan; Hirsch, Jessie; Pandolfi, Giavanna; Dorf, Kevin; Hoffman, Luke; Kinzer, Dylan; Aldeus, Brian; Quinn, Justyce; Leek, Cristina; Leek, Ava; Pottorof, Ofra; Salomon, Angelo; Deveaux, Brian; and Sell, Katie (2026) "Different Positions, Different Profiles: Investigating Hip Mobility and Flexibility Across Women's Soccer Positions," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15: Iss. 9, Article 22.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss9/22