title: Biomechanical and performance differences between female soccer athletes in National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I and III.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Myer
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holleran
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Treadway
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hewett
mesh_terms: 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*