A new two square agility test for workplace health-reliability, validity and minimal detectable change.

[Purpose] One promising strategy for workplace wellness programs is to emphasize functional mobility screening and coaching to promote suitable physical activity and reduce musculoskeletal risks. This study examined intra-rater reliability, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, known-groups validity and minimal detectable change for a new Two Square Agility Test (TSAT) designed as a functional mobility measure to promote workplace health. [Participants and Methods] Two hundred forty eight non-disabled participants (ages 18-69) were measured for body size, physical activity and 3 trials of the Two Square Agility Test. 78 participants were tested a week later on the Two Square Agility Test and other functional mobility tests. [Results] Intra-rater reliability was excellent (ICC=0.94) and test-retest reliability was good (ICC=0.87). Two Square Agility Test correlated moderately with Timed Up and Go (r=0.63), Five Times Sit to Stand (r=0.62), and Maximum Step Length (r= -0.54), supporting its concurrent validity. Performances for Two Square Agility Test were better in males, younger age, higher physical activity, and non-obese groups. The minimal detectable change at a 95% confidence level (MDC95) was 1.37 s. [Conclusion] Preliminary results supported reliability and validity of Two Square Agility Test as a functional mobility measure to promote workplace health.

A comparison of dynamic coronal plane excursion between matched male and female athletes when performing single leg landings.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent evidence supporting the use of neuromuscular training to reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury risk, female athletes continue to show an increased anterior cruciate ligament injury rate in collegiate basketball and soccer when compared to males. The purpose of the current study was to identify gender and task differences in measures that may increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury in female basketball and soccer athletes. METHODS: Eleven female and 11 male collegiate basketball and soccer athletes were height (female mean 176 (SD 8 cm), male mean 176 (SD 8 cm)) and weight (female mean 73 (SD 7 kg), male mean 74 (SD 6 kg)) matched. Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to calculate differences in total coronal plane angular joint excursion (maximum-minimum) between male and female athletes when performing a series of medially and laterally directed drop landings. FINDINGS: Female athletes demonstrated increased total coronal plane excursion for the hip, knee and ankle (P < 0.05) during the medial drop landing. During the lateral drop landing females displayed increased excursion at the hip and knee. When comparing tasks, the lateral drop landing resulted in greater coronal plane excursion at the hip (P < 0.05) while the knee showed no differences between movements. In contrast, females demonstrated increased ankle excursion during the medial drop task (P < 0.05). INTERPRETATION: Female athletes demonstrate increased lower extremity coronal plane excursion when performing single leg drop landing in both the medial and lateral direction when compared to height/weight matched male athletes. This increased coronal plane oscillation of lower extremity joints may be related to the increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury for female basketball and soccer athletes.

Use of an overhead goal alters vertical jump performance and biomechanics.

This study examined whether an extrinsic motivator, such as an overhead goal, during a plyometric jump may alter movement biomechanics. Our purpose was to examine the effects of an overhead goal on vertical jump height and lower-extremity biomechanics during a drop vertical jump and to compare the effects on female (N = 18) versus male (N = 17) athletes. Drop vertical jump was performed both with and without the use of an overhead goal. Greater vertical jump height (p = 0.002) and maximum takeoff external knee flexion (quadriceps) moment (p = 0.04) were attained with the overhead goal condition versus no overhead goal. Men had significantly greater vertical jump height (p < 0.001), maximum takeoff vertical force (p = 0.009), and maximum takeoff hip extensor moment (p = 0.02) compared with women. A significant gender x overhead goal interaction was found for stance time (p = 0.02) and maximum ankle (p = 0.04) and knee flexion angles (p = 0.04), with shorter stance times and lower angles in men during overhead goal time. These results indicate that overhead goals may be incorporated during training and testing protocols to alter lower-extremity biomechanics and can increase performance.