Understanding the Increase in ACL Injuries in Female Basketball Players in NCAA Division II: A Case Study
Santos Andino, Paulino. Northcentral University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2017. 10608352.
Abstract
Women participation in all sports has dramatically increased since the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This increase has been a positive factor for society and sport, but at the same time, sports injuries have also increased, threatening female college student- athletes’ careers and success. The specific problem addressed in the qualitative single case study is that the NCAA, female student-athletes’ ACL injuries are increasing despite the efforts of the NCAA prevention services such as bylaws compliance that are used to avoid injuries. The purpose of the study was to gain an understanding of why female student-athletes’ ACL injuries in the NCAA were increasing despite their efforts. The sample comprised seven female basketball players, one compliance officer, and the basketball head coach from one University of the NCAA Division II female basketball team in Texas. Interview questions were recorded to facilitate the transcription, analysis, and coding through the Dedoose software program. Five themes emerged; (a) ACL injuries are increasing because of overuse, lack of rest periods, and hard workouts, (b) Females have more ACL injuries than men and men are stronger and have more muscles, (c) Student athletes are unaware of NCAA prevention services and bylaws 17.1 to 17.3, (d) Student athletes’ participate in physical activities more than 20 hours a week when they are in season, and (e) Coach and compliance officer were not aware of the prevention services in the NCAA. Recommendations for further research suggest that more studies should be conducted in all divisions of the NCAA, and focus not only on female basketball, but also in all sports, also a multiple case study should be conduct regarding the perception of female student athletics on prevention services, and bylaws 17. to 17.3 in the NCAA DIV I and 3.