J Korean Acad Kinesiol. 2014; 16(3): 127-136.
Analysis of Lower Extremity Alignment and Injury Type in Female Soccer Players during 2013 Season
Korea National Sport University
Sports Wellness center of Yong In University
Received January 16, 2014; Accepted July 19, 2014.
Abstract
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between anatomical characteristics of lower extremity and incidence and type of injury.
METHOD
Ninety-seven female soccer players participated in the study.
Quadriceps angle, rearfoot angle and leg length of both leg were measured before the season started. Two way repeated measures, multiple response analysis, and odd's ratio were applied to find the differences at an alpha level of .05.
RESULT
Q-angle and rearfoot angle were significantly different between dominant and non dominant leg. The ankle was the most injured site followed by the knee, the upper leg, the foot, the lower leg, the hip, and the groin. Also, the ligament and muscle were the most injured structure of the lower extremity. The mechanisms of injury were overuse, non contact, and contact injuries.
Types of movement related to injury were running, shooting, landing, passing, tackling, changing direction, defending and dribbling. The types of injury were sprain, tear, tendinitis, strain, contusion, and fracture. Q-angle of non dominant leg was significantly different between ACL injured group and non ACL injured group.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results, the asymmetry of Q-angle and rear foot angle would be the predictors of ACL injury in female soccer players. Thus, measurements of lower extremity alignments which can be easily measured in the field would be included for the development of effective injury prevention interventions for female soccer players.
Keywords :
quadriceps angle, rearfoot angle, leg length, incidence of injury, anterior cruciate ligament