Comparison of Head Impact Mechanisms and Type of Play for Women’s Lacrosse Over 4 Years

Student Author Information

Jessica Riquelme, University of LynchburgFollow

Location

Sydnor Performance Hall, Schewel Hall

Access Type

Open Access

Entry Number

86

Start Date

4-10-2019 3:45 PM

End Date

4-10-2019 4:00 PM

College

College of Health Sciences

Department

Athletic Training

Abstract

Context: Lacrosse is a fast growing contact sport, minimal studies have examined head impacts in women’s lacrosse.

Objective: To compare head impact mechanisms and type of play in women’s lacrosse.

Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Setting: Collegiate lacrosse fields.

Participants: 29 women’s lacrosse players (age=20.39±0.39 years, height=162.13+6.50 cm, mass=60.99+4.82 kg) participated over years. Intervention: Participants wore xPatch sensors during games and practices.

Main Outcomes Measures: Peak linear (PLA; g) and rotational (PRA; deg/sec²) accelerations of head impacts.

Results: Stick to head impacts occurred most often (IR=483.87, CI₉₅=397.30-570.45); whereas, head to head impacts were the least common (IR=20.16, CI₉₅=2.49-37.83; IRR=24.00, CI₉₅=9.81-58.71). A player was 53.50 (CI₉₅ 13.21-216.70) times more likely to sustain a head impact while playing defense (IR=431.45, CI₉₅ 349.70-513.20) compared to when her team had an additional player due to a penalty on the opposing team (IR=8.06, CI₉₅=3.11-19.24). The main effect for mechanism was significant (multivariate F_10,458=2.91, P2=.06). Follow-up ANOVAs showed mechanism significantly altered PLA (F_230,230=3.13, P=.009, �²=.06) and PRA (F_230,230=2.71, P=.021, �²=.06). Type of play also altered the combined dependent variables (F_8,458=2.37, P=.02, �²=.04); however, type of play did not alter PLA (F_230,230=2.40, P=.051, �²=.04) nor PRA (F_230,230=2.04, P=.089, �²=.03).

Conclusions: Women’s lacrosse players are most likely to sustain a head impact from stick to head contact while playing defense. Stick to head contacts are illegal in women’s lacrosse but occurred often during our data collection.

Key Words: Women’s lacrosse; xPatch sensors; head impacts

Faculty Mentor(s)

Dr. Thomas Bowman
Dr. Debbie Bradney

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