Functional Movement Screening Profile of College Rodeo Athletes.

The sport of rodeo is recognized as a high velocity, high intensity activity with a wide range of varying dynamic movements occurring across different rodeo events. High velocities and extreme dynamic range of motion movements, compounded with uncooperative livestock, contribute to elevated risk of injury. While these factors are generally attributed to rodeo injuries, little is known regarding movement limitations of rodeo athletes.

Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of the current investigation was to identify movement pattern differences among athletes from various rodeo events using the Functional Movement Screening (FMS™) test.

Methods: College rodeo athletes from a mid-size university in the southwest region were recruited as participants for this study. Athletes were categorized according to their respected rodeo event: steer wrestling (n = 12), breakaway roping (n = 44), goat tying (n = 17), barrel racing (n = 30), team ropers (n = 23) bronc riding (n = 18), tie down roping (n = 8), or bull riding (n = 10). All rodeo athletes completed an FMS™ test to establish movement efficiency. A General Linear Model was applied to assess event/group FMS™ mean differences to control for heterogeneity of variance across the groups. A repeated Measures ANOVA was utilized to illustrate variance in FMS™ scores within rodeo events.

Results: Study participants consisted of 162 collegiate rodeo athletes, including 71 males (m ± sd; age: 20.5 ± 1.35 years) and 91 females (20.2 ± 1.38 years). There was a significant interaction effect between event and FMS™ tests (F(7, 55) = 8.11, p <.0.01) with robust standard errors applied. The aggregate FMS™ scores did not differ significantly (p = 0.438) between athletes of various rodeo events.

Conclusion: These results suggest event specific movement patterns associated with various rodeo events may affect FMS™ test results for rodeo athletes. Additionally, event specific, preventative exercise prescription can be derived from these findings and may serve as a useful strategy for decreasing potential injury.

Level of evidence: 3.