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Body Composition

(28) Musculoskeletal and Torque Asymmetries in NCAA Division I Softball Athletes

Friday, July 14, 2023
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Milano III-IV
Abstract Details: Softball athletes’ demands require unique and chronic repetitive loading patterns of isolated limbs. These specific patterns may elicit skeletal, body composition, and torque production asymmetries, elevating risk of injury and long-term imbalances. PURPOSE: To compare skeletal, muscle, and fat tissue characteristics using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans and bilateral leg torque production across a strength and power spectrum through isokinetic dynamometry. METHODS: Twenty softball athletes (n=20) were matched with age (±2yrs), weight (±5kg), and sex-matched controls who were physically active ≥3 d/wk. All participants provided voluntary informed consent, filled out injury and current exercise frequency questionnaires and then completed total body, lumbar spine, and dual-hip DXA scans. Total body and regional muscle and fat mass, and bone health measurements of bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were obtained from each scan along with expanded bilateral hip structural analyses. Subsequently, dominant and non-dominant quadriceps and hamstrings torque was obtained at 60, 120, 180 °/sec, which are representative of a muscular strength and power spectrum.  RESULTS: Athletes and controls were similar for age, height, and weight ( 20.1±1.4 years old; 164.8± 24.5cm; 71.87± 7.2kg) (all p≥0.643). Average resistance training days per week were similar between groups (3.7±1.5 d/wk) (p=0.611; d=0.16) but high-impact plyometric training frequency was greater in athletes (1.95±1.8d/wk) compared to controls (0.0±0.0 d/wk) (p< 0.001; d=1.20). All bone health measurements regardless of location, were superior in athletes, compared to controls (all p< 0.001; d=0.59-1.24). Athlete percent difference asymmetry between dominant and non-dominant limb muscle and fat mass, BMC, and BMD were not different compared to controls (all p≥0.394; d=0.06-0.27) except for arm BMC and BMD (Figure 1-Top panel. all p≤0.001; d=1.03-1.21). Athletes demonstrated greater torque at all speeds for both quadriceps and hamstrings (all p≤0.022; d=0.47-1.32) after correcting for leg lean mass. Quadriceps 60°/s asymmetry was similar between groups (p≥0.992; d=0.00) but 180°/s was reduced in athletes (p≤0.038; d=0.65). 60°/s and 180°/s. H:Q  ratio were superior in athletes for their dominant leg (all p≤0.050; d=0.61-0.76) but similar in their non-dominant leg (all p≥0.563; d=0.19-0.57) compared to controls (Figure 1.-bottom panel) although all athletes fell below the optimal ratio percentage of 65% (all ≤51.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Softballs’ explosive, repetitive, limb-dominant nature elicits superior total body and regional skeletal health indices although upper body bone asymmetries and lower body torque imbalances are apparent. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Although amplified through sport-specific training, asymmetry and imbalance identification and reduction training should be pertinent for performance and coaching staff to prevent career-impacting injury and long-term issues.

Acknowledgements: None