Does core stability predispose female athletes to lower extremity injuries?

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between core stability and lower extremity injuries in female athletes through functional tests. Decreased core stability has been suggested to contribute to the etiology of lower extremity injuries. So far researches had been used non-functional tests to assess the core stability. Material and Methods: Fifty collegiate female athletes with a 3-year history of participating in volleyball, basketball and handball (mean age: 21.30 ± 1.4, mean weight: 59.92 ± 2.14, and mean height: 163/06 ± 2.33) who also had a history of lower extremity injury in the past two years were selected for this study. Lumbopelvic stability and endurance of the core stabilizer muscles were assessed for each subject by Step down test and a collection of tests derived from core stability exercises. Results: Pearson correlation and Fisher’s z test indicated that in female athletes, core stability significantly correlated with lower extremity injuries (P ≤ 0.05) and every component of the above-mentioned tests was negatively related to lower extremity injury (r = -0.690). In this study, the strongest correlation was found to exist between lumbopelvic stability and lower extremity injuries. Conclusion: Core stability has an important role in lower extremity injuries. Thus, it is suggested that strengthening of core stabilizer muscles be used for preventing the lower extremity injuries in female athletes. Key words: Core stability, Lower extremity injury, Female athletes.