Lower limb musculoskeletal screening in elite female Australian football players

Abstract

ObjectiveTo report physical characteristics of lower-limb strength, endurance, range of motion, balance, and pain during adductor squeeze in elite female Australian Football (AF) players, and to examine the effect of limb dominance, previous AF experience, age, and previous level of sports participation on these characteristics. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingThree elite AF clubs. ParticipantsEighty-five female players. All were aged ≥18, contracted for the 2018 season, and participated in pre-season training. Main outcome measuresThe physical characteristic assessments included; pain on adductor squeeze, weight-bearing lunge, side bridge, isometric hip abduction and adduction strength, and the modified star excursion balance test. ResultsThe adductor squeeze had low pain scores, with 93% of players scoring ≤2 on the numerical rating scale. Other assessment results were (mean ± SD): 10.8 ± 2.7 cm for weight-bearing lunge, 95 ± 39s for side bridge, 1.85 ± 0.23 and 1.85 ± 0.36Nm/kg for hip abduction and adduction strength respectively, and 92 ± 8% for the modified star excursion balance test. There was no clinically relevant effect of limb dominance, previous AF experience, age, or previous level of sports on physical characteristics. ConclusionsPhysical characteristics for five assessments are reported. These data can be used for comparison purposes in the screening and clinical management of elite female AF players.