Drexel University
College of Nursing & Health Professions
1505 Race Street Ms 501 Philadelphia, PA 19102
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department
Relationship between Core Stability and Athletic Injuries
Investigators
Sheri P. Silfies, PT, PhD (Co-PI) – Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University
D. David Ebaugh, PT, PhD (Co-PI) – Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University
Marisa Pontillo, PT, DPT, SCS (Co-PI)-PhD Candidate Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
Sciences, Drexel University; Sports Team Leader, GSPP Penn Therapy and Fitness at Penn
Sports Medicine Center
Courtney Butowicz, MSEd, CSCS- PhD student Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences,
Drexel University
Summary / Overview Core stability training has gained popularity in clinic settings despite limited evidence to support its
use for the prevention or rehabilitation of extremity injuries in athletes. Core stability (neuromuscular
control and muscle capacity of the trunk and pelvis) has been theoretically linked to optimal function
in athletes. Impairments in core stability could theoretically result in less than optimal performance
and abnormal force dissipation to the extremities leading to injuries. However, a paucity of literature
exists to support the relationship between core stability and upper extremity function, injury, and
performance in the athletic population. In addition, clinical measures of core stability have not been
validated, and lab-based measures have not been systematically and prospectively used to study
core stability in an athletic population. This has resulted in several knowledge gaps that hinder
clinical identification of core stability deficits in athletes, as well as the determination of the role that
core stability has in athletic injuries. The specific aims of this line of research are to 1) determine the
strength of the association between clinical and lab-based measures of core stability in the athletic
population and 2) identify the clinical and lab-based measures of core stability that are significant
1 predictors of shoulder injuries in athletes.
Drexel University
College of Nursing & Health Professions
1505 Race Street Ms 501 Philadelphia, PA 19102
Funding
Legacy Fund, Sports Section; American Physical Therapy Association (5/2013-5/2015)
Participating Sites
Drexel University Physical Therapy Services
GSPP Penn Therapy and Fitness at Penn
Sports Medicine Center
Presentations Pontillo M, Horneff JG, Huffman GR, Sennett BJ. Relationship between upper extremity strength,
functional testing, and self-reported disability in collegiate athletes. JOSPT 2010, 40(1): A108.
Pontillo M, Sennett BJ, Horneff JG. Profile of upper extremity rotator cuff strength and function in
Division 1 collegiate athletes. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011; 41(1): A45.
Spinelli, BA, Ebaugh, DD, Pontillo, M, Cannella, M, Silfies, SP. Differences in Instrumented
Measures in Individuals with Ideal Visual Resting Scapular Alignment and Motion and Individuals
with Resting Malalignment and Aberrant Scapular Motion. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther, 2012:42(1):A86
Contact us
If you are interested in learning more about current low back pain studies being conducted through
the Rehabilitation Sciences Spine Research Lab at Drexel University, please contact Dr. Sheri Silfies
at 215.762.3589 or silfies@drexel.edu.
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