Changes in somatotype, and lower back strength in University-level female netball players during one season

Ruan Janse van Rensburg; Henriëtte Hammill; Mark Kramer; Yolandi Willemse

doi:10.36386/sajrsper.v47i2.669

Authors

Ruan Janse van Rensburg Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6822-9168
Henriette V. Hammill Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3979-8972
Mark Kramer Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2237-7549
Yolandi Willemse Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation (PhASRec) Research Focus Area and Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP): Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3486-6745

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36386/sajrsper.v47i2.669

Keywords:

Back-leg-chest, Ectomorph, Endomorph, Lower back strength, Mesomorph, Netball, Somatotype

Abstract

Netball is a popular, high-intensity team sport played globally by more than 20 million players. Due to the high intensity and high participation levels, there is a high injury prevalence. The lower back region has been identified as the third most common site of injury within female team sports, with somatotype also influencing injury rates within netball. The objective of this research was to evaluate changes and explore relationships between somatotype and lower back strength (LBS) during a single netball season in university-level female netball players. A lack of evidence was found to support a relationship between changes in LBS and changes in a raw ectomorph (p=0.741), mesomorph (p=0.677) and endomorph (p=0.81) somatotype score during a single netball season in university-level female netball players. Statistically significant differences were noted for mesomorph somatotype score which increased LBS (12.35 kg) at the end of the season compared with the beginning of the season (p=0.004). A relationship between whole-body muscle strength and a dominant mesomorph somatotype score is important in netball because increased strength leads to adequate lumbo-pelvic hip-complex stability, thus reducing injuries and improving athletic performance.

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