(9) THE ROLE OF THE HIP ABDUCTOR TO ADDUCTOR RATIO IN INCREASING BRAKING IMPULSE ASYMMETRY: A FIELD STUDY IN FEMALE ATHLETES

Purpose: Braking impulse (BI) refers to the force applied to decelerate an athlete’s center of mass during sprinting, cutting, jumping, and landing. Greater BI asymmetry between legs has been identified as a risk factor for lower extremity non-contact injuries. This study examines the relationship between the abductor-to-adductor (ABD:ADD) strength ratio and BI asymmetry in collegiate female soccer players. Methods: 18 collegiate female soccer players (age: 20.5 ± 1.5 years, height: 166.7 ± 8.8 cm, body mass: 60 ± 10.5 kg) completed a countermovement jump (CMJ) and isometric strength tests for hip abduction (ABD) and adduction (ADD). BI asymmetry was measured during a Sbarra CMJ using force plates (Hawkin Dynamics, USA) sampling at 1000 Hz. Hip ABD and ADD strength were assessed with the VALD ForceFrame. Results: The ABD:ADD ratio was calculated for both legs. BI asymmetry was classified as above or below the 50th percentile to distinguish between greater and lesser asymmetry. Data were analyzed to match the direction of BI asymmetry, with positive values assigned to the right leg and negative to the left leg. A strong inverse correlation was found between the ABD:ADD ratio and BI asymmetry (r = -0.82; p < 0.01), with an R² value of 0.67. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in female athletes a lower ABD:ADD ratio may be linked to greater BI asymmetry. Practical Applications: Monitoring strength imbalances and braking mechanics throughout the season could provide insights into the relationship between hip strength and braking mechanics, helping to identify athletes at a greater risk of non-contact injury. Acknowledgements: none