Intrinsic Factors
Age, Sex, Somatotype, Biomechanics
Frances Daly MSc
Age (Young V Old)
 Underdeveloped
coordinative system
 Developing brains
 Developing skeletal
system
Age (Young V Old)
 Children often play a large number of sports and sometimes
they over-extend themselves
 Their bodies are still growing and there ligaments and tendons
are much stronger which can result in pulling on the bones
 Adults think they are as flexible as when they were younger
 Degeneration causes skeletal problems which can result in
compromised integrity of the body
Child Sports Injuries
 Osghoodslaters disease (anterior knee pain)
 Little league elbow
 Shin splints
 Sprains, strains, bruising
 Concussion
 Second Impact Syndrome
 Brain injury – American football
Preventing Sport Injuries in
Children
 Correct protective equipment
 Correct playing fields
 Rest into programme
 Parental/Coach Pressure
needs to be reduced
 Emphasis placed on
fun/health benefits
 Treat injuries early , don’t
ignore it
Sex – Women V Men
 Women and Men
produce different
hormones which put
them at risk of injury
 Laxity in joints and
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 Oestrogen – is higher in
Women leading to
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ligaments
Increase in flexibility
Increase in hyperextension
of joints contributing to
over lax joints and
ligaments
Relaxin
Found to decrease collagen
tension
E.G ACL Injuries
 Women have significantly higher rate of ACL tears than men do
 Women have wider hips therefore more flexible hips leading to more rotation
 Findings: Increased susceptibility to ACL injury in women during the
menstrual cycle during the ovulation phase found higher rate of injury during
this period.
 Hormonal differences during Menstrual Cycle
 Increase in oestrogen , relaxin , progesterone which in turn
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Affect soft tissue strength
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Diminish collagen tension
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Anesthetise the central nervous system
ACL Tear
 Occurs when the upper
leg rotates and the lower
leg stays put
 Increased laxity and
internal rotation of the
hip puts women at a
higher risk of damage to
the ACL
Woman V Men (Strength)
 Study 1. Men V Women
 Hamstring V Quadriceps
 Women Quadriceps stronger than Hamstrings,
straightens leg and causes strain on knee joint
 Mens are equally balanced
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dievo5YNHtI
Women V Men (Flexibility)
 Women have more flexibility
than their male counterparts
 Increased levels of oestrogen
, relaxin make the ligaments
more elasticated and lax
 Joint stability can be affected
due to increased hyper
flexibility in ligaments
surrounding joints
Somatotypes
 Bodies come in all shapes and sizes , but these can be
grouped into 3 basic types known as somatotypes
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOR4XFVx36U
Somatotype
Somatotype & Injury
 Coaching and training approach needs to adjust to
suit the needs of the type of person presenting to you
physically and psychologically
 Coaches/Trainers should assess their players , however
some people cross many boarders so adjustment and
adaptations should be used.
Ectomorph
 An ectomorph's is a typical skinny guy. Ecto’s have a light build with
small joints and lean muscle. Usually ectomorph’s have long thin
limbs with stringy muscles. Shoulders tend to be thin with little
width.
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Typical traits of an ectomorph's:
Small “delicate” frame and bone structure
Classic “hard gainer”
Flat chest
Small shoulders
Thin
Lean muscle mass
Finds it hard to gain weight
Fast metabolism
Ectomorph
 self-conscious
 preference for privacy
 introverted
 inhibited
 socially anxious
 artistic
 mentally intense
 emotionally restrained
What you need to know when
training an Ectomorph
 They find it very hard to gain weight.
 They have a fast metabolism which burns up calories very
quickly.
 Ecto’s need a huge amount of calories in order to gain weight.
 Workouts should be short and intense focusing on big muscle
groups.
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Supplements are definitely recommended. Ectomorph's
should eat before bed to prevent muscle catabolism during the
night.
 Generally, ectomorph's can lose fat very easily which makes
cutting back to lean muscle easier for them.
Approach to Training/Rehab
 Perfectionist
 What do I need to do
 How often do I need to do it
 When will the expected outcome occur
 Like to work alone
Mesomorph
 A mesomorph has a large bone structure, large muscles and a
naturally athletic physique. Mesomorph are the best body type for
bodybuilding. They find it quite easy to gain and lose weight. They are
naturally strong which is the perfect platform for building muscle.
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Typical traits on a Mesomorph:
Athletic
Generally hard body
Well defined muscles
Rectangular shaped body
Strong
Gains muscle easily
Gains fat more easily than ectomorphs
Mesomorph Traits
 adventurous
 desire for power and
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dominance
courageous
indifference to what
others think or want
assertive, bold
zest for physical activity
competitive
love of risk and chance
What you need to know when
training a Mesomorph
 The mesomorph body type responds the best to weight training.
 Gains are usually seen very quickly, especially for beginners.
 The downside to mesomorph is they gain fat more easily than
ectomorph's. This means they must watch their calorie intake.
 Usually a combination of weight training and cardio works best
for mesomorph.
Approach to Training/Rehab
 Need concrete results , sense of achievement
 They need fast progress
 Don’t try control them let them set own goals in
agreement with you
 Highlight their achievements (charts)
Endomorph
 The endomorph body type is solid and generally soft. Endomorphs
gain fat very easily. Endo’s are usually of a shorter build with thick
arms and legs. Muscles are strong, especially the upper legs.
Endomorphs find they are naturally strong in leg exercises like the
squat.
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Typical traits of an Endomorph:
Soft and round body
Gains muscle and fat very easily
Is generally short
"Stocky" build
Round physique
Finds it hard to lose fat
Slow metabolism
Muscles not so well defined
Endomorph Traits
 love of food
 tolerant
 evenness of emotions
 love of comfort
 sociable
 good humoured
 relaxed
 need for affection
What you need to know when
training Endomorphs
 When it comes to training endomorphs find it very easy to
gain weight.
 Unfortunately, a large portion of this weight is fat not
muscle. To keep fat gain to a minimum, endomorphs must
always train cardio as well as weights.
 Usually supplements may not be needed as long as the
person has a high protein intake in their diet.
Approach to Training/Rehab
 Don’t like to be out of comfort zone
 Set specific measurable targets
 Keep it simple exercise is not fun its work
 Don’t push them
 Exaggerate every small bit of progress
Training different body types
 Same conditions but very different results
 Our bodies respond differently
 We must as coaches /trainers use different thresholds
for different individuals - play to their strengths
 Overdoing it is a main cause of injury
Understanding Personalities
Endomorph
Ectomorph
Mesomorph
Broad
Thin
Muscular
Tolerant
Artistic
Courageous
Love of luxury
Sensitive
Energetic
Love of comfort
Apprehensive
Active /dynamic
Extravert
Introvert
Assertive
Risk taker
Whats your type?
Biomechanics
 Gait Analysis
 Unilateral movements
 Muscle imbalance
 Incorrect technique
 Skeletal structure Men V
Women