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Female intercollegiate basketball players experience a three times greater rate of ACL injuries than their male counterparts. This investigation hypothesized that women and men perform the cutting maneuver differently with respect to ground reaction forces and knee range of motion.The subjects performed a ninety degree cut on a force platform while being video taped. The male subjects exhibited a 23.1 percent greater (p=.0167) knee flexion angle than did the female subjects. The female subjects exhibited a 25.5 percent greater (p=.0022) braking force than did the male subjects. The impact maximum was not statistically significant (p=.3290).The performance characteristics exhibited by the female subjects in this study would suggest that the cutting maneuver is more dangerous for female basketball player. Female athletes should be taught correct performance of the cutting maneuver. I addition to technique, strength training should be encouraged to develop a stronger secondary stabilization mechanism for the knee. / School of Physical Education

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if life stress had any affect on athletic performance and the occurrence of injury. The athletes in this study ranged in age from 17 to 22, and all had the potential and ability to practice and compete at the Division I level in track and field. The goal of the researcher was to collect as much information as possible on each athlete. Each athlete was required to write in a daily journal. A standard set of questions were asked in interviews prior to competition and following competition. Each athlete completed two types of scales prior to competition as well: Everyday Problem Scale (EPS) and Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). Through this information five common trends emerged: injury with treatment, external distractions, a higher performance was perceived if their family and friends were present at competition, teammate support, and teammate frustration.The researcher believed there was sufficient evidence to dismiss the comparison between the five common trends and the scores of the SCAT and EPS. The SCAT scores were mainly at the moderate level. The average score among all the athletes was approximately "19" or moderate. The EPS dealt with life stress and not athletic stress.The most frequently cited concern by the athletes were financial problems, difficulties with a girlfriend, wanting a relationship with someone, and so forth, but none were consistently cited.The perception of the stressor was an important factor in this study since the athletes perceived each competition either as distressful or eustressful. Depending on how much the athlete perceived each competition as a stressor may have effected his performance. Few stressors were identified but depending on the competition the athlete may have focused so much on the stressor that it became distressful while at another competition the same stressor was not focused on as much so it was viewed as eustressful. / School of Physical Education

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The purpose of this study was to identify the pharmaceutical practices of head athletic trainers in the treatment of athletic injuries at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. Another purpose was to determine if head ATCs and their staffs are compliant with the Federal and State guidelines relating to the dispensing and administering of prescription and over-the-counter OTC medications.Previous research indicated that widespread problems exist with the pharmaceutical practices of athletic trainers in the athletic setting. Due to these problems, the health care of student-athletes is being compromised and athletic trainers, physicians, pharmacists and universities are at risk for legal ramifications.A packet consisting of a cover letter explaining the purpose and voluntary nature of the study, the instrument, and a self-addressed stamped envelope was mailed out to the 312 Division I head athletic trainers on March 17, 1998. The 34 item instrument was specifically developed for the study and it covered areas dealing with the pharmaceutical practices of athletic trainers. A response rate of 60% (N= 188) was obtained for the study.The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics which consisted of means, standard deviations, and frequencies. The results indicated that prescription and OTC medications are provided in a majority of the athletic training rooms. The results indicated that a large number of athletic trainers dispense and administer prescription medications to student-athletes. This means that a number of ATCs are not following the Federal and State pharmaceutical guidelines. As a result of these findings, it is evident that widespread problems still exist in the pharmaceutical practices of athletic trainers at the NCAA Division I level. These practices could lead to compromised health care for the student athletes and serious legal ramifications for ATCs, physicians, and the universities. / School of Physical Education