The Correlation Between Strength Levels Measured Through Dynamic Strength Exercises and the Incidence and Severity of Injury Among Collegiate Athletes

<p>Injury to athletes in sport occurs as a result of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors. Mounting evidence points toward decreased strength as a predictor of injury in athletes. By comparing strength levels in functional movement patterns to injury, the strength and conditioning professional will be able to design effective training programs to reduce the incidence of injury in sport better. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between strength measured through dynamic strength exercises (power clean, the squat, and the bench press) among collegiate athletes and the incidence and severity of injury. We hypothesized that greater incidence and severity of injury to collegiate athletes is correlated to low athlete strength to bodyweight ratios in the power clean, squat, and bench press. Our study included 81 male and 80 female collegiate athletes playing various sports from South Dakota State University. This study utilized strength measurement and injury data collected from the athletic department for two school years. Strength measurements were divided into quartiles and compared to injury data divided into mild, moderate, and severe injury severity categories. An analysis of variance was utilized to determine the correlation of strength with incidence and severity of injury. We found no correlation between strength measured through dynamic strength exercises and the incidence and severity of injury. However, there were significantly more minor injuries compared to moderate and severe for both males and females. Based on the findings from our study, we are unable to determine the correlation between strength measured through dynamic strength exercises and the incidence and severity of injury among collegiate athlete.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health and Nutritional Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Jardine, Alex

Contributors dc:contributor

• Matthew Vukovich

• collegiate athlete
• injury incidence
• injury severity
• squat power clean bench press
• strength
• strength and conditioning
• Exercise Science
• Sports Sciences

Licence

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1060

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2059