Biomechanical and performance differences between female soccer athletes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I and III.
BACKGROUND
The recent increase in women's varsity soccer participation has been accompanied by a lower extremity injury rate that is 2 to 6 times that of their male counterparts.


OBJECTIVE
To define the differences between lower extremity biomechanics (knee abduction and knee flexion measures) and performance (maximal vertical jump height) between National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and III female soccer athletes during a drop vertical jump.


METHODS
Mixed 2 x 2 design.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty-four female collegiate soccer players (Division I: n = 19; Division III: n = 15) participated in the study. The groups were similar in height and mass.


METHODS
Each subject performed a maximal vertical jump, followed by 3 drop vertical jumps.


METHODS
Kinematics (knee abduction and flexion angles) and kinetics (knee abduction and flexion moments) were measured with a motion analysis system and 2 force platforms during the drop vertical jumps.


RESULTS
Knee abduction angular range of motion and knee abduction external moments were not different between groups (P > .05). However, Division I athletes demonstrated decreased knee flexion range of motion (P = .038) and greater peak external knee flexion moment (P = .009) compared with Division III athletes. Division I athletes demonstrated increased vertical jump height compared with Division III (P = .008).


CONCLUSIONS
Division I athletes demonstrated different sagittal-plane mechanics than Division III athletes, which may facilitate improved performance. The similarities in anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors (knee abduction torques and angles) may correlate with the consistent incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury across divisions.
Smith
Rose
R
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Ford
Kevin R
KR
Myer
Gregory D
GD
Holleran
Adam
A
Treadway
Erin
E
Hewett
Timothy E
TE
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*