Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Department
Kinesiology
First Advisor
Susan E. D'Andrea
Abstract
Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in collegiate soccer, but also in the world. Professional soccer observes a prevalence of around 10-18 percent (Walden et al., 2013). The United States alone reports up to 2 million acute ankle sprains annually (Herzog et al, 2019). LAS ranked top 3 in types of injuries within collegiate soccer with hamstring tears and concussions (Chandran et al., 2021). Around 40 percent of people who experience a lateral ankle sprain will experience chronic ankle instability, and since spraining ankle once at a greater risk now for spraining ankle again. LAS recovery to return to play typically does not follow a criteria-based approach like anterior cruciate ligament (Flore et al., 2025). Functional return to play tests exist for LAS; however, they lack key integrative cognitive approaches that the soccer player will be experiencing during a live soccer game. Dual tasking is a fundamental aspect of soccer where players need to use inhibition control, making decisions, and perfect motor tasks (Memmert et al., 2024). After LAS, deficits and asymmetry can arise, especially after premature return to play protocols, especially more so when asked to perform a motor and cognitive task simultaneously (Flore et al., 2024). There has been limited research on dual tasking with lateral ankle sprains, especially in collegiate athletes to determine the impact of dual tasking while performing sport specific tasks, this has been researched in other studies like concussions or ACL tears (Ness et al, 2020), (Kleiner et al., 2018).
To better understand the differences in joint kinematics, muscle activation and reaction time comparing healthy soccer players and soccer players who have experienced a lateral ankle sprain this study will evaluate the differences during a 45-degree cut during a dual-task condition. Sixteen Division 1 soccer players from the University of Rhode Island participated in the study. Eight participants experienced a unilateral ankle sprain within the past 12 months with no other lower extremity surgeries or fractures. Eight participants were included in this study as healthy controls. The University of Rhode Island IRB approved this study.
Chapter 1, Review of Literature, provides background information about Lateral ankle sprains: how these injuries occur and describing differences post- lateral ankle sprain post return to play, dual-tasking, how dual tasking can impact performance.
Chapter 2, Kinematic and Muscle Differences During Dual Task Cutting in NCAA Soccer Players. In this study, the physiological difference of each cohort was evaluated in terms of physical function and cognitive reaction time. The results indicated that there were ankle joint kinematic differences within and between soccer players, as well as slower global reaction time in the LAS cohort. The implications of this study’s findings for future research are addressed. This manuscript is in preparation for submission to the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine.
Chapter 3, Summary, provides a review of the results and limitations, and discusses potential directions of future research.
Recommended Citation
McCarthy, Abigail, "KINEMATIC AND MUSCLE ACTIVITY DIFFERENCES DURING DUAL TASK CUTTING IN NCAA SOCCER PLAYERS" (2026). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 2724.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/2724