Nijmeijer, E.M. (2021) Optimal Movement for Lower Extremity Injury Prevention; How to Create an Optimal Learning Environment for Youth Soccer Girls. thesis, Sport Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background; Despite intensive efforts put forward on prevention programs, the rate of injuries remains unchanged in the Netherlands. Current prevention programs mainly address the physical part of injury prevention and low compliance rate to such programs is reported. A suboptimal transfer from training in a closed environment to real training or games that include unexpected movements takes place. Previous research showed beneficial effects of the OPTIMAL theory on motor performance and learning. The three components of this theory, autonomy, enhanced expectancies and implicit learning, stimulated with an external focus of attention, improve motor skill acquisition. For injury prevention, it is crucial to decrease external loads applied to the lower extremity in sport-specific situations. The effects of the entire OPTIMAL model on movement biomechanics and psychological constructs over a longer period is not known yet. Aim; To investigate how landing kinetics and psychological factors (motivation: such as fun, effort and competence) change over time. Methods; Ten talented healthy soccer girls (age 15.3 ± 1.2 y, height 168.1 ± 5.0 cm, mass 75.2 ± 6.9 kg) participated in this study. Subjects followed a four-week training program in the laboratory consisting of three sport-specific tasks and received expert video instruction. The tasks were built up using an increase of cognitive and physical load. Furthermore, baseline, immediate post and retention tests were performed. Primary outcome variables were frontal and transverse moments of the knee (together weighted as joint load) and answers on the psychological questionnaire. Repeated measures MANOVA was used to investigate joint loads and fun, effort and competence during the program. Results: No significant changes in joint load and effort over time were found (p>.05). Fun was significantly higher during the third week compared to the first (p=.012) and fourth week (p=.001). Greater competence was found during the second (p=.024) third (p=.001) and fourth (p=.020) week compared to the first week. Conclusion; Perceived fun and competence were higher the third week compared to the first week. Although there was a trend to better landing kinetics over the weeks, no significant decrease in joint load was found. Results are promising and innovative in a sense that is the first study testing the entire OPTIMAL model including retention and linking biomechanics with motivation (measured with 3 constructs). Furthermore, the joint load is a relatively easy, but unique method to give a single value to the multiplanar load in vulnerable planes placed at joint(s). Coaches are advised to apply variation, progression and sport-specificity to their training program to enhance motivation. Keywords: motor learning, observational learning, injury prevention, expert modelling
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Benjaminse, dr. A. and Otten, prof. dr. E. and Elferink-Gemser, dr. M.T. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 13 May 2022 14:20 |
| Last Modified: | 13 May 2022 14:20 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3312 |
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