Int J Sports Med 2023; 44(01): 29-37
DOI: 10.1055/a-1870-4041
Training & Testing

Discriminative Ability of Lower limb Strength and Power Measures in Lacrosse Athletes

Scott W. Talpey
1   Federation University Australia, Institute of Health of Health and Wellbeing, Victoria Australia.
2   Southern Connecticut State University, Human Performance Laboratory, Connecticut USA.
,
Robert Axtell
2   Southern Connecticut State University, Human Performance Laboratory, Connecticut USA.
,
Elizabeth Gardner
3   Yale University, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Connecticut USA.
,
Maggie Maloney
4   Yale University, Department of Athletics, Connecticut USA.
,
Thomas Newman
4   Yale University, Department of Athletics, Connecticut USA.
,
Jason Cordone
4   Yale University, Department of Athletics, Connecticut USA.
,
Mathew O’Grady
1   Federation University Australia, Institute of Health of Health and Wellbeing, Victoria Australia.
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to compare isokinetic strength, countermovement jump and drop jump variables between high-contributors and low-contributors within NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s lacrosse athletes. Men’s (N=36) and Women’s (N=30) NCAA Division I lacrosse athletes completed strength testing of the quadriceps and hamstring across three speeds (60°·s−1, 180°·s−1, 300°·s−1), countermovement and drop jumps. To determine the discriminative ability of select lower-limb strength and power characteristics participants were categorized as high-contributors (Males N=18, age=20.3±0.4 yrs, height=183.9±5.5 cm, mass=90.8±5.8 kg; Females N=15, age=20.8±0.8 yrs, height=169.3±6.7 cm, mass=64.1±7.2 kg) or low-contributors (Males N=18, age=19.5±0.2 yrs, height=184.1±5.6 cm; mass=87.9±8.1 kg; Females N=15, age=19.7±0.2 yrs, height=169.8±7.0 cm, mass=62.9±7.7 kg ) based upon the number of games the participants competed in during the regular season. Within the male cohort, moderate significant (p<0.05) differences were observed between high-contributors and low-contributors in isokinetic hamstring strength of the left leg at 300°·s−1 (d=0.69) and peak power in countermovement jump (d=0.68). Within the women’s cohort a large (d=0.87) significant difference (p<0.05) in isokinetic strength of the left hamstring was observed between high-contributors and low-contributors at 60°·s−1. Hamstring strength and lower-limb power are important strength measures for lacrosse performance and should be prioritized in training prescription for lacrosse athletes.



Publication History

Received: 20 September 2021

Accepted: 04 June 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
07 June 2022

Article published online:
07 October 2022

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