How Lower Body Flexibility Affects Speed in Female Athletes

Unit 5 Research Project
Worthing College Sports Science
Georgia Short
2015

Assessment Criteria
Pages 3-17 & 27-38
• P2: carry out sport science or exercise science-
based research
• P3: collect and record data from the research
project conducted
• M2: correctly analyse collected data, describing
techniques used
• D1: correctly analyse data, explaining techniques
used
• P4: produce a full research report using a
standard scientific structure

To investigate the affect of lower
body flexibility on speed for 16-20
year old female football or rugby,
participation or performance level
athletes
P2: Carry out / P4: Produce

Abstract
The aim of the investigation was to investigate the affect of lower body
flexibility on speed for 16-20 year old female football or rugby,
participation or performance level athletes. Lower body flexibility
measurements and speed measurements were obtained from 8
female footballers and 8 female rugby players all aged between 16-20.
The measurements obtained were from a sit and reach test, and the
ROM of the ankle and knee joints by the use of a goniometer. Results
indicate increase in lower body flexibility decreases speed with the
strongest component for both sports being the hip flexibility (- 0.466)
There was also found to be differences between the sports with total
knee and ankle ROM having a greatest effect on footballers with nearly
no effect on rugby players (-0.055). Results show there may be a need
for specific flexibility training for the different sports. Therefore the
implications for further research are that women’s sports are a priority
area for research, looking into flexibility and speed.

Contents: General
Page 3- Aim
Page 4- Abstract
Page 5- Contents: General
Page 6- Contents: Appendices
Page 7- Contents: Figures and Table
Page 8- Acknowledgements
Page 9- Introduction
Page 10- Literature Review and References
Page 11- Project Hypothesis
Page 12- Method
Page 13- Data Collection
Page 14- Data Analysis
Page 15- Results
Page 16- Discussion
Page 17- Conclusion
Page 18- Assessment Criteria
Page 19- Review 1/3
Page 20- Review 2/3
Page 21- Review 3/3
Page 22- Future Recommendations 1/5
Page 27- Appendix

Contents: Appendices
Page 27- Appendix Title Page
Page 28- Appendix 1 (standardised instructions general)
Page 29- Appendix 2 (standardised instructions
goniometer test)
Page 30- Appendix 3 (standardised instructions sit and
reach test)
Page 31- Appendix 4 (standardised instructions flying
30 metre sprint)

Contents: Figures and Tables
Page 32- Figures and Tables
Page 33- Figures and Tables 1 (chart of all data)
Page 34- Figures and Tables 2 (The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (All))
Page 35- Figures and Tables 3 (The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed
(Footballers))
Page 36- Figures and Tables 4 (The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (Rugby
Players))
Page 37- Figures and Tables 5 (The Effect of Total Knee ROM on Speed (All))
Page 38- Figures and Tables 6 (The Effect of Total Ankle ROM on Speed (All))
Page 39- Figures and Tables 7 (Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (All))
Page 40- Figures and Tables 8 (Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (Footballers))
Page 41- Figures and Tables 9 (Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (Rugby Players))

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my participants for taking
part in the research. I would also like to thank
Brooke Marshall and Phoebe Thorpe for
assisting me in collecting my data. This project
would not have been possible with out them.

Introduction
My aim is to investigate the affect of lower body flexibility
on speed for 16-20 year old female football or rugby
participation or performance level athletes
I chose to do this aim as I am interested in the results and
how this may benefit football and rugby players because I
have access to these players and wanted to help benefit
my friends game; whether she needs more or less lower
body flexibility.
The project timescale was that the research and literacy
review were completed by 27th February, the testing by
mid- March and the final write up completed by 27th
March

Literature Review and References
My literacy review can be found here

Project Hypothesis
1. The more lower body flexibility a person has
overall, the slower they will be.
2. Flexibility in the hip will have the greatest
effect on speed for both sports compared to
the total ROM in the knee and ankle.
3. The football girls will show a stronger
correlation with lower body flexibility than
the rugby girls.

Method
• I will be using opportunity sampling to recruit my participants for my research; this will be 8 female
footballers and 8 female rugby players, all aged between 16-20 and of participation or performance
level.
• I will not be getting my participants to take a PARQ test before carrying out two kinds of flexibility
tests and a speed test; this is because they are all currently training/playing and therefore it can be
assumed they are fit and healthy for testing.
• I will read a set of standardized instructions to the participants so they are clear as to what I’m
measuring and how they are to conduct the test (see appendix 1)
• My first flexibility test will be measuring the flexibility at the ankle and then the knee by using a
goniometer. This will measure the difference between full extension and full flexion at the joints.
The goniometer standardized instructions will be read to the athlete (see appendix 2)
• The other flexibility test will be a sit and reach test which will determine flexibility at the hips, this
is a maximal test and therefore will be conducted three times and the best score taken. (see
appendix 3)
• I will then also be carrying out a simple sprint test; standing start, over 30 meters. This will be
completed three times, and the average score taken. (see appendix 4)
• I will then put all data into excel and by creating a range of graphs in order to make comparisons.
• The initial testing of all tests will be completed and typed up by the 13th of March. The graphs and
comparisons will be made by the 18th of march.
• My write up will be completed by the 27th of March.
P3: Collect and record / M2: Correctly analyse & describe techniques / D1: Correctly analyse & explain techniques

Data Collection
I will be collecting primary data, firstly, by myself or my
assistant conducting laboratory based experiments and
collecting the flexibility tests; recording the results on paper.
We will then conduct field based experiments to record the
best speed from three tests of each of these participants over
a 30m sprint from standing start. The sprint data I collect will
be continuous and will be recorded to two decimal places. We
take the best because the sprint test is a maximal test. As this
is all numerical data, it is quantitative and easy to make
comparisons. I will later collate my data within excel
spreadsheet. I am collecting comparative and nominal data as
I will be comparing the two groups of footballers and rugby
players. All my data collated together overall will be ordinal.

Data Analysis
By using the best speed score from 3 attempts
(because the sprint test is a maximal test) I will
firstly compare this to the flexibility scores as a
whole. By collating the data into an excel spread
sheet and creating a scatter graph I will conduct a
line of best fit. Then I will compare each component
of flexibility separately and I will be looking to see
which component lower body flexibility has the
greatest effect on speed. Finally I will use the
scatter graph to compare the flexibility and speed
to see if there is a difference between rugby and
football players.

Results
All results have been typed up and can be viewed as a chart. (See figure and table 1). After creating
graphs for each of my objectives to give a visual view and then have calculated the line of regression for
each of my objectives. The line of regression models the relationship between the x and y variables, this
shows how far the points are from the trend line (line of best fit). This allows me to compare each
component to see the relationship it has with speed. A perfect correlation would give a score of +/- 1, a
strong score of +/- 0.8/0.9, medium around +/- 0.4-0.7 , weak from +/- 0.1-0.3. A score of 0 is no
correction whatsoever.
LINE OF REGRESSION SCORES
The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (All) -0.375 (See figure and table 2)
The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (Footballers) -0.523 (See figure and table 3)
The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (Rugby Players) -0.055 (See figure and table 4)
The Effect of Total Knee ROM on Speed (All) -0.368 (See figure and table 5)
The Effect of Total Ankle ROM on Speed (All) -0.273(See figure and table 6)
Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (All) -0.466 (See figure and table 7)
Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (Footballers) -0.511 (See figure and table 8)
Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (Rugby Players) -0.397 (See figure and table 9)

Discussion
All results gained were negative, this shows that all components have an effect on speed, the greater
the flexibility an athlete has cause a decrease in speed of the athlete, although some components have
a much stronger regression line than others. This wasn’t expected after carrying out research and
completing my literacy review. I was expecting positive correlations between all components of
flexibility and speed.
The results indicate that total knee and ankle flexibility has the greatest effect on footballers speed.
There was a medium negative correlation of -0.523 between the two. The more flexible the football
player is the faster they are. However total knee and ankle flexibility had the least correlation between
all aspects on the rugby players showing near to no correlation at all, -0.055. This shows there are
significant differences between the sports.
The sit and reach test, measuring flexibility in the hip shows a medium negative correlation against
speed. Again there are differences between the two sports however there is less of a difference. The
Rugby players showed a weak negative correlation, this indicates that hip flexibility has a greater effect
on their speed than total knee and ankle ROM.
The component of flexibility that had the greatest effect on speed for both rugby and footballers was
the lower body component which was what I expected to find. However it only had the greatest effect
on rugby players when looking at the sports separately.

Conclusion
My aim was to investigate the affect of lower body
flexibility on speed for 16-20 year old female football or
rugby, participation or performance level athletes. From
looking at my literacy review I was expecting to find that
the more flexible the athletes lower body was the slower
they would be. However I found the opposite. My results
support my second hypothesis as a general however
when broken down to separate sports only supports the
rugby players.
The third hypothesis is also supported by my results how
ever total ROM for knee and ankle had a much greater
difference than lower body flexibility.

Assessment Criteria Pages 19-26
• P5: carry out a review of the research project
conducted, describing strengths, areas for
improvement and future recommendations.
• M3: carry out a review of the research project,
explaining strengths, areas for improvement
and future recommendations.
• D2: carry out a review of the research project,
justifying future recommendations for further
research.

Review (1/3)
I think that the project conclusions met the project aim quite well. I was able
to gain results for all my hypotheses and my objectives even if they were not
what I was expecting.
My first objective was to find the body component which had the greatest
effect on speed and this was the lower body flexibility; obtained by from the
sit and reach test. (-0.466)
My second objective was to see the effect total lower body flexibility had,
there was a -0.375 for total knee and ankle ROM which was a weak
correlation, showing a slight relationship with speed.
The third objective was to see if there was a difference between rugby and
football players. I found more than one difference after conducting the tests.
Flexibility of the ankle and the knee has a much stronger correlation to
footballers (-0.523) then to rugby players , who have almost no correlation(-
0.055). There was also slight differences between lower body flexibility and
speed between the sports however this was less significant.
P5: Describe / M3: Explain / D2: Justify

Review (2/3)
The strengths of the research project were that I made sure
the ROM tests in the ankle and knee were conducted in the
same manner. There was various ways to conduct these test
but to make sure I got the most accurate results I made sure
all the athletes were given a set of standardized instructions
(see appendix 2)
Another strength of the research project was that the sit and
reach test was conducted three times and because it was a
maximal test the highest score was taken.
I think that the whole research project is both valid and
reliable. It is valid because I was able to measure what I set
out to and reliable as I believe with the method and
standardized instructions would easily be followed to gain the
same results.

Review (3/3)
One area of improvement for this research project would be to break
down the flexibility tests more to see if there are specific muscles
which have the greatest effect. This would allow more research into
each area.
I would also make sure that the sprint test was carried out three times
as it is maximal test and I didn’t have enough time to do this. I took
the tests before training sessions and therefore was on a time limit.
The goniometer tests took a long time and therefore the sprint test
were only conducted once.
I would also use a flying sprint test as I don’t think 30 metres was long
enough to get an accurate measure of the athletes true maximum
speed.
I would monitor the warm up more accurately as the footballers went
about the warm up in a different way to the rugby girls. This would
improve the reliability of the research in the future.

Future Recommendations (1/5)
If the project was to be completed again I would use more
participants, I think that 16 participants was okay as this was a primary
study. It allowed me to look for significance without wasting too much
time or money however as there was trends found it should be
repeated on a wider scale. The secondary research would allow the
researchers to conduct more tests to see if there are any stronger
relationships between certain aspects of lower body flexibility and
speed.
I would look into the different positions the participants play and see
whether this effects the type and amount of flexibility or speed
required. Although my research was sport specific, certain positions on
each team require the athletes to play in different manners; the goal
keep for example needs flexibility, however doesn’t need to move
round the pitch to make attacks.
P4: Produce / P5: Describe / M3: Explain / D2: Justify

The benefits of the proposed changes would make the research more
accurate. The more participants there are the more representative of
the population, gender, ethnicity, religion and age can all effect the
results and the more participants the research has the more true the
statistical analysis is. By having more results you would be able to see
if there is an optimum lower body flexibility level; the graph may
plateau at a certain number. However there may also be results that
indicate that after the optimum level, athletes speed starts to increase
again and flexibility has the opposite effect.
Although my research was sport specific, certain positions on each
team require the athletes to play in different manners; the goal keep
for example needs flexibility, however doesn’t need to move round the
pitch to make attacks. This would allow the researchers to compare
the ROM needed for certain positions and may lead to different
position sessions being conducted within a sport.

A future recommendation would be to conduct the
research on boys. By carrying out the research with the
same variables would enable researchers to identify the
differences between aspiring male and female athletes.
The control variable would have to be kept the same this
includes the same population; athletes of
participation/performer level, rugby/footballers and of
age 16-20, the same variables and the same measures.
This would allow researchers to see if there are any
specific gender differences. It could show how flexibility
affects the different genders in different ways and lead to
different training sessions being planner for the different
genders.

Another future recommendation that would benefit
the research would be looking into a wider variation
of sports. This would allow researchers to compare
track, racket and aesthetic sports instead of just
field based contact sports. There may be patterns
within sports that would be interesting to look at
and show trainers how much flexibility training
young aspiring athletes should be taking part in.
This research may also lead to flexibility tests of a
young age to see what sport what be most suitable
to the athletes.

My final future recommendation for this project
would be to look at a range of age group
variations. As people age, the tissue around
joints tends to thicken, this can decrease the
joint's range of motion; even though speed
increases as we age. It would be interesting to
look to see if there is an optimum age where
flexibility has a positive effect on the speed of an
athlete and whether the causes a decrease.

Appendix 1
• Standardised instructions:
• I will be conducting 3 different tests on you today.
The first will be goniometer tests, this is on both
knees and ankles, and will measure the range of
movement (ROM) in the joints. The second will
be a sit and reach test, this is to measure your
lower body flexibility. The third is a 30metre
sprint. Before conducting the tests you will need
to complete a short warm up, this is to prevent
injury.

Appendix 2
Standardised Instructions: Goniometer Tests
The goniometer test will be conducted on both knees and
ankles. It requires measuring full extension and full
flection at the joints. I will firstly require you to stand up
straight, with feet flat on the floor, this will allow me to
measure full extension at the knees. I will then require
you to lay on your front and kick your knees back as far as
possible, this will allow me to record your full flection. For
the ankles you will sit flat on the ground, removing shoes
as they restrict the movement, you will then point your
toes, I will measure the full extension of both ankles.
Then you pull your toes back towards your body and
hold, this will allow me to measure full flection.

Appendix 3
Standardised Instructions: Sit and Reach
You need to sit with your legs fully extended on
the ground and your feet placed flat against the
edge of the sit and reach box. Place both hands
together and slowly stretch over and slide your
hands along the top of the box. My assistant or I
will record your score. Complete this three
times.

Appendix 4
Standardised Instructions: 30m standing start sprint
test
You will stand at the first cone and be given the
commands on your marks, get set, go. On the
command go, the assistant will start the stopwatch
simultaneously as you sprint to the cone on the
other side. You will then get a 1 minute rest before
completing the test again. You will complete the
sprint test a total of three times and your fastest
score will be taken.

Research Project Figures
and Tables

Figures and Tables 1
Name Sport
Right Side Left Side
Combine
d Knee
ROM
(deg)
Combine
d Ankle
ROM
(deg)
Total
Knee
and
Ankle
ROM
(deg)
Standing
Start
30m
Sprint
(secs)
Sit and
Reach
(cm)
Knee Ankle Knee Ankle
Extension
(deg)
Flexion
(deg)
ROM
(deg)
Extension
(deg)
Flexion
(deg)
ROM
(deg)
Extension
(deg)
Flexion
(deg)
ROM
(deg)
Extension
(deg)
Flexion
(deg)
ROM
(deg)
Brooke Football 182 56 126 142 86 56 182 55 127 166 68 98 253 154 407 4.01 20
Phoebe Football 188 60 128 160 82 78 186 52 134 155 84 71 262 149 411 4.5 20
Helena Football 179 78 101 145 98 47 180 74 106 152 97 55 207 102 309 5.43 13
Katie Football 180 64 116 135 90 45 180 63 117 134 98 36 233 81 314 4.51 16
Pippa Football 181 73 108 152 95 57 180 71 109 153 96 57 217 114 331 4.31 22
Dani Football 180 61 119 152 85 67 180 59 121 162 85 77 240 144 384 4.01 25
Caz Football 180 60 120 146 90 56 181 78 103 148 85 63 223 119 342 4.13 22
Hannah Football 182 64 118 131 90 41 181 65 116 135 89 46 234 87 321 4.35 7
Maddy Rugby 180 59 121 179 80 99 180 63 117 160 82 78 238 177 415 4.28 25
Katie Rugby 180 59 121 157 84 73 181 56 125 155 86 69 246 142 388 4.81 31
Becky Rugby 180 38 142 150 67 83 180 39 141 141 94 47 283 130 413 4.01 27
Elise Rugby 182 55 127 140 92 48 183 62 121 141 94 47 248 95 343 4.52 17
Ashleigh Rugby 180 59 121 144 84 60 181 59 122 140 88 52 243 112 355 4.1 28
Alice Rugby 180 58 122 146 86 60 180 58 122 149 85 64 244 124 368 3.73 28
Harmon
y Rugby 180 56 124 148 89 59 180 59 121 145 86 59 245 118 363 4.76 14
Caz Rugby 180 60 120 146 90 56 181 78 103 148 85 63 223 119 342 4.13 22

4.01
4.5
5.43
4.51
4.31
4.01
4.13
4.35 4.28
4.81
4.01
4.52
4.1
3.73
4.76
4.13
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440
Speed(secs)
Total Knee and Ankle ROM (deg)
The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (All)

4.01
4.5
5.43
4.51
4.31
4.01
4.13
4.35
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
300 320 340 360 380 400 420
Speed(secs)
The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (Footballers)

4.28
4.81
4.01
4.52
4.1
3.73
4.76
4.13
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
320 330 340 350 360 370 380 390 400 410 420
Speed(secs)
The Effect of Total Knee and Ankle ROM on Speed (Rugby Players)

4.01
4.5
5.43
4.51
4.31
4.01
4.13
4.35 4.28
4.81
4.01
4.52
4.1
3.73
4.76
4.13
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290
Speed(secs)
Total Knee ROM (deg)
The Effect of Total Knee ROM on Speed (All)

4.01
4.5
5.43
4.51
4.31
4.01
4.13
4.35 4.28
4.81
4.01
4.52
4.1
3.73
4.76
4.13
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Speed(secs)
Total Ankle ROM (deg)
The Effect of Total Ankle ROM on Speed (All)

4.01
4.5
5.43
4.51
4.31
4.014.13
4.35 4.28
4.81
4.01
4.52
4.1
3.73
4.76
4.13
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Speed(secs)
Sit and Reach Flexibility (cm)
Lower Body Flexibility Effect on Speed (All)

4.01
4.5
5.43
4.51
4.31
4.014.13
4.35
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Speed(secs)
Lower body flexibilty (cm)
Lower Body Flexibilty Effect on Speed (Footballers)

4.28
4.81
4.01
4.52
4.1
3.73
4.76
4.13
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
10 15 20 25 30 35
Speed(secs)
Lower body flexibilty (cm)
Lower Body Flexibilty Effect on Speed (Rugby Players)

How Lower Body Flexibility Affects Speed in Female Athletes

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (13)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (9)

Similar to How Lower Body Flexibility Affects Speed in Female Athletes

Similar to How Lower Body Flexibility Affects Speed in Female Athletes (20)

More from georgiashorttt

More from georgiashorttt (16)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

How Lower Body Flexibility Affects Speed in Female Athletes