Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Nov-Dec;15(6):781-787.
doi: 10.1177/19417381221146556. Epub 2022 Dec 27.

Changes in Performance on Common Return-to-Sport Tests During a Collegiate Women's Soccer Season: Implications for Baseline Testing

Melissa M Montgomery  1 , Steve Carranza  2
Affiliations

Changes in Performance on Common Return-to-Sport Tests During a Collegiate Women's Soccer Season: Implications for Baseline Testing

Melissa M Montgomery et al. Sports Health. 2023 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Background: Baseline testing of objective lower limb function may help clinicians make more informed return-to-sport (RTS) decisions in the event of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, as these tests are based on physical performance, it is possible that they improve during the season as athletes get stronger and fitter. Hence, it may be difficult to ascertain the patient's preinjury status and have an accurate reference for comparison when determining readiness for RTS. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in common ACL RTS tests during a college soccer season to determine the most appropriate time to perform baseline testing.

Hypothesis: Hop test performance will improve across the season.

Study design: Descriptive laboratory; prospective cohort.

Level of evidence: Level 4.

Methods: A total of 31 women's soccer players from 1 NCAA Division I university agreed to participate this study. Participants performed 4 single-leg hop tests and the 505-agility test to measure cutting speed on 3 occasions: preseason (PRE), midseason (MID), and end-of-season (END). Performance on each test was compared across days to determine whether performance increased during the season. As a secondary analysis, limb symmetry index (LSI) was also compared across the season.

Results: A total of 23 participants (age, 19.7 ± 1.3 years; height, 1.69 ± 0.07 m; weight 60.9 ± 7.2 kg) completed all 3 testing sessions during the season. Performance during PRE was better than MID and END for all hop tests (all P < 0.01). LSI did not change during the season (P value range, 0.18-0.79).

Conclusion: Performance on the hop tests was best during preseason and declined thereafter, which may be reflective of cumulative fatigue.

Clinical relevance: Baseline testing of RTS tests performed during preseason may provide an accurate representation of an athlete's best abilities over the course of a collegiate soccer season. Preseason testing would also enable athletic trainers to acquire baseline data for all athletes before they are injured.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; baseline testing; lower extremity; return to sport; soccer.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no potential conflicts of interest in the development and publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The 505-agility test.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Hop test performance across the season. *Pre > Mid, †Pre > End, §Pre < Mid, ‡Pre < End.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

  • Soccer's Transition.
    Wojtys EM. Wojtys EM. Sports Health. 2023 Nov-Dec;15(6):779-780. doi: 10.1177/19417381231204483. Sports Health. 2023. PMID: 37879341 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. Adams D, Logerstedt DS, Hunter-Giordano A, Axe MJ, Snyder-Mackler L. Current concepts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a criterion-based rehabilitation progression. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(7):601-614. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Agel J, Arendt EA, Bershadsky B. Anterior cruciate ligament injury in national collegiate athletic association basketball and soccer: a 13-year review. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33(4):524-530. - PubMed
    1. Agel J, Rockwood T, Klossner D. Collegiate ACL Injury rates across 15 sports: National Collegiate Athletic Association injury surveillance system data update (2004-2005 through 2012-2013). Clin J Sport Med. 2016;26(6):518-523. - PubMed
    1. Akehi K, Palmer TB, Conchola EC, et al. Changes in knee extension and flexion maximal and rapid torque characteristics during a collegiate women’s soccer season. J Strength Cond Res. 2022;36(5):1389-1395. doi: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000003607. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Arendt EA, Dick R. Knee injury patterns among men and women in collegiate basketball and soccer. NCAA data and review of literature. Am J Sports Med. 1995;23(6):694-701. - PubMed