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FEMALE’S POSTURAL STABILITY FOLLOWING A SIX WEEK OFF-SEASON TRAINING CYCLE IN DIVISION I COLLEGIATE SOCCER

JH Wang
TN Brown

Abstract

J.H. Wang, T.N. Brown

Boise State University, Boise, ID

Female athletes have 4 to 6 times greater incidence of non-contact ACL injury than males. Decreased dynamic postural control, which reportedly results from acute neuromuscular fatigue, is purportedly a predictor for ACL injury and may contribute to female’s injury rate. Injury rates tend to be higher later in prolonged training, yet, it is currently unknown if the cumulative fatigue of high intensity off- season training decreases dynamic postural control. PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of a six-week off-season training program on postural stability in female athletes, and whether stability differed between limbs. METHODS: 27 female NCAA Division I soccer players performed a series of forward single-leg hops immediately prior to and following their off-season training. Participants performed 5 successful single-leg hops with each limb, which required they stand a distance equal to their leg length from a force platform, before jumping over a 17 cm box and landing with either dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) limb on the force platform. During landing time to stabilization (TTS) and dynamic postural stability index (DPSI) were calculated. TTS was the first instance that GRF was within 5 SD of baseline (average GRF for 0.5 sec of quiet standing) for 0.5 sec. DPSI was calculated from initial contact to time to stabilization. Limb asymmetry was calculated as symmetry angle between D and ND. A Two-Way ANOVA tested main effect and interaction of training and limb, while a paired T-Test compared limb asymmetry. RESULTS: Neither training, nor limb had a significant effect on TTS (p=0.199, p=0.528) or DPSI (p=0.098, p=0.193). Additionally, limb asymmetry was not significantly different for TTS (p=0.830) or DPSI (p=0.291) following training. CONCLUSION: Cumulative fatigue of high-intensity training did not significantly alter dynamic postural stability for female athletes. Rather, athletes exhibited an insignificant 5% improvement in time to stabilization after training, despite performing 10% worse on the dynamic postural stability index. D and ND limbs, however, exhibited directionally similar changes in dynamic postural stability following high-intensity off-season training. Additionally, athletes exhibited no significant asymmetry between limbs.

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