THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MOVEMENT QUALITY, CUMULATIVE INTERNAL TRAINING LOAD, AND MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM RESPONSE IN COLLEGIATE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Aberrant lower extremity biomechanics and high training loads are associated with increased injury risk. This study determined the relationship between biomechanical patterns, training load, cartilage thickness changes, and muscle response during the preseason of 17 collegiate female volleyball athletes (age= 19.7±1.2 years; weight= 77.1±8.7 kg; height= 170.4±10.1 cm). Lower extremity biomechanics were assessed using overhead squat and jump-landing assessments. Vastus lateralis cross sectional area (CSA) and echo intensity and femoral condylar cartilage thickness were measured via ultrasound prior to and following preseason. Session-RPE and jump counts were totaled across all practice sessions. Individuals with poorer LESS scores demonstrated less hypertrophy of the vastus lateralis (r= -0.672, p= 0.003). Individuals with poorer overhead squat scores demonstrated greater decreases in medial femoral condylar cartilage thickness (r= -0.544, p= 0.024). Poor movement quality could be an underlying factor to quadriceps muscle inefficiency and femoral cartilage damage, which may increase injury risk.Master of Art