Biomechanical quantification of deadbug bridging performance in competitive alpine skiers: Reliability, reference values, and associations with skiing performance and back overuse complaints. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ellenberger, Lynn; Jermann, Julia; Fröhlich, Stefan; Frey, Walter O.; Snedeker, Jess G.; Spörri, Jörg
• Is Part Of: Physical therapy in sport. Volume 45(2020)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Stabilization -- Athletes -- Biological maturity -- Performance -- Injury; Sports physical therapy -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- diagnosis -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; 615.82088796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2020.05.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-853X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: (1) To study the reliability of quantifying rear-chain stabilization capacity during deadbug bridging ( DBB ), (2) to provide reference values for competitive alpine skiers, and (3) to study associations with age, anthropometrics, maturation, skiing performance and back overuse complaints. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Biomechanical field experiment including questionnaires. Participants: 12 healthy subjects (reliability experiment); 133 skiers of the U16 category and 38 of the elite category (main experiment). Main outcome measures: DBB performance was quantified using 3D motion capture as the maximum amplitude of the relative vertical displacement of two pelvis markers ( DBB displacement ). Additionally, in U16 skiers, age, anthropometrics, maturation, skiing performance, and back overuse complaints were assessed. Results: The reliability experiment revealed an ICC(3, 1) and 95% CI of 0.81 [0.61, 0.93]. Within-subject SEM was 3.89 mm [3.16 mm, 5.12 mm]. Depending on sex and category, medians of DBB displacement in skiers ranged between 29 mm and 45 mm. DBB displacement differed between elite and U16 skiers (p < 0.001), but not between sexes. In U16 skiers, DBB displacement was independent of age, anthropometrics, and biological maturation, however, associated with skiing performance and back overuse complaints (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The proposed approach may be considered an adequate method to quantify athletes' rear-chain stabilization capacity. Highlights: Our approach to quantify athletes' rear-chain stabilization capacity during DBB is objective, reliable, and relevant. It could potentially be used for monitoring athletic long-term development and screening injury-relevant athletic deficits. However, its predictive validity needs to be further investigated by longitudinal studies.