Relationship between somatotype and non-contact knee injuries in intercollegiate male athletes

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Authors
Burton, Joseph
Advisor
Issue Date
1994
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
School of Physical Education
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Patella femoral syndrome (PFD) accounts for 25% of all injuries in an active population and causes a reduction in participation time. The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship existed between PFD and somatotype in college age males. The definition of injury was if the athletes had PFD from internal or external trauma during the past 12 months which caused a time-loss for one day or more. Ten intercollegiate athletes underwent 18 bi-lateral diametric measurements according to Sheldon's procedures. There was no statistical relationship between the diametric measurements and PFD (p>.05). We found that these athletes had a strong mesomorphic component with few ectomorphic characteristics. In general, this project concurs with previous studies that found a high mesomorphic component with those athletes that are injury prone. Future studies regarding somatotyping must consider socioeconomic trends of the population to accurately define a relationship between injury and body build characteristics.

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