| Description |
A recent theory for the high occurrence of ACL injuries in female athletes is the presence of asymmetric leg muscle function. Unfortunately, information relative to the bilateral muscle function for the legs of female alpine skiers is lacking. Therefore the primary aim of this project is to examine the muscle function characteristics for both legs of female alpine skiers. A second aim is to compare the reliability and potential overlap of two methods of assessing muscle function, the single leg counter movement jump (SL CMJ) and single leg time to stabilization (SL TTS). A total of 20 subjects were tested, 9 members of an elite first year developmental team (Group D, ages 16-21 years, ! mass 69.0 kg) and 11 members of an elite experienced team (Group E, ages 18-27 years, ! mass 68.0 kg). After completion of a standardized dynamic warm up, SL CMJ height was measured using a linear position transducer (Celesco), attached to a belt positioned in the lumbar region. TTS was simultaneously derived using force plate (Kistler) data to measure the time required for the subject's vertical ground reaction force to stabilize (for five seconds) within 5% of the subject's body weight following the jump landing. |
