Lower Body Stiffness Variations and Associated Injury Risk during Sports Specific Tasks

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal stiffness changes and associated prospective lower limb injury risk across a season of training in female athletes. Thirty-nine high level female athletes from varied training backgrounds completed sports-specific tasks and repetitive hopping. Repeated measures analysis of variance, independent t-tests, receiver operating characteristics curves and logistic regression analysis were implemented to evaluate the identified aims of this study. Results suggest athletic training influences longitudinal changes in leg stiffness which may place athletes at increased injury risk. An optimal range of stiffness may exist allowing optimal performance and minimised injury risk.