Effects Of Athletic Performance Training On Injury Prevention And Psychosocial Health In Female Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

Two major health concerns with female adolescent athletes are psychosocial wellness and sports-related injuries. It is also known that these health concerns are much greater for minority students who attend high school in economically depressed cities. PURPOSE: To complete a pilot study on urban underrepresented minority and suburban female high school athletes, to determine the feasibility and utility of using Functional movement screening (FMS) to assess injury risk and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to assess psychosocial health in this population during 10-weeks of athletic training. METHODS: In this feasibility pilot study, female student-athletes from an urban minority high school (n=10) and suburban high schools (n=10) were recruited into a 10-week athletic training study. The primary goals of this study were to: 1) recruit and retain the human subjects throughout the study period, 2) evaluate global health (depression, anxiety, pain, peer relationships and physical function) and physical performance, and 3) assess injury risk. Self-reported data from the subjects were collected at each session, and FMS and performance data were collected at pre- and post-intervention. Statistical analyses to assess changes after the 10-weeks of athletic training were performed using paired t-test. RESULTS: Fifteen students completed the 10-week training, and no adverse events of the training or study were reported. Anxiety (45.8±7.4 vs. 41.4±7.0, p=0.006), peer relationships (51.5±68. vs. 54.1±6.5, p=0.02), pain interference (47.0±6.4 vs. 44.1±7.8, p=0.02), were significantly improved, while depression (47.0±7.9 vs. 44.1±6.8, p=0.08) trended towards significance . Bench Press (70.2±10.7 vs. 82.0±13.9, p=0.0009), Pro Agility (5.8±0.5 vs. 5.4±0.4, p=0.005), and Total FMS (20.3±4.6 vs. 30.4±4.5, p<0.0001) were all significantly improved. Surprisingly, 10 students (67%) were in peril of sports-related injury (FMS<14) at the start of the program, and all but 1 (90%) eliminated this serious risk factor. CONCLUSION: PROMIS and FMS are effective outcome measures to quantify changes in psychosocial wellness and sport-related injury risk in high school female athletes. In addition, exercise improves mood and overall health. Supported by William & Sheila Konar Foundation