Differences in Landing Strategies Between Previously Injured and Uninjured Limbs in Senior College Level Gaelic Footballers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tierney, Marie | Clifford, Amanda M. | O'Sullivan, Kieran

Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Note: [] Correspondence to: Marie Tierney Email: marie.tierney@ul.ie

Abstract: Background: Although evidence suggests that a previous injury can affect kinematic landing patterns in athletes, to date no research has been conducted on kinematic landing strategies in Gaelic Football players. Previous literature examining kinematic landing strategies have focused on sports other than Gaelic Football. The purpose of this study is to assess if previously injured limbs of elite male Gaelic Football players display differing kinematic landing strategies to uninjured limbs of the same population. Methods: Eleven members of the University of Limerick's Senior Male Gaelic Football panel participated. Analysis was carried out upon twelve previously injured limbs and ten uninjured limbs. Sagittal plane kinematic data were recorded for hip, knee and ankle joints when landing from a 60cm height. Results: The results of the study showed that the uninjured limbs (N=10) had significantly greater peak dorsiflexion (6.7°, p = 0.009) than the previously injured limbs (N=12). All other findings were not deemed statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that differences may exist between the landing strategies of previously injured and uninjured limbs in male Gaelic footballers which could potentially increase the risk of injury and re-injury.

Keywords: Biomechanics, GAA, Kinematics, Lower limb injury

DOI: 10.3233/PPR-2011-32203

Journal: Physiotherapy Practice and Research, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 12-17, 2011