The Relationship Between Lower Extremity Mass Composition and Movement Profile, Loading Symmetry, and Vertical Ground Reaction Force (2016)
Undergraduate: Hanna Gierman
Faculty Advisor: Darin Padua
Department: Exercise & Sport Science
As age increases, females are at an especially greater risk of succumbing to lower extremity injuries than their male counterparts, as they are 3-4 times more likely to sustain a non-contact ACL tear. ACL tears and other types of lower extremity injuries typically manifest during bouts of intense physical activity, secondary to aberrant biomechanics. Fortunately, risk of injury can be predicted based on the physical demands of the activity as well as the inherent risk of the participant. Lower extremity mass composition and BMI are factors that contribute to biomechanical function and performance. The ratio of fat to muscle can affect individual performance on levels that may include movement profile, loading symmetry, and vertical ground reaction force. It is hypothesized that females with a higher ratio of lower extremity lean muscle to fat mass will demonstrate a reduced risk of ACL injury. Likewise, females with a lower ratio of lower extremity muscle to fat mass will demonstrate an increased risk of ACL injury. The purpose of this study is threefold. One purpose is to determine if there is a difference in lower extremity mass composition between 'low' and 'high' risk movement profiles. The second purpose is to determine if there is a relationship between lower extremity mass composition and baseline loading patterns during landing. The final purpose is to determine if there is a relationship between lower extremity mass and loading patterns during exercise.