Process: A Graphic Essay

pages 84-8

DIFFERENT MOVEMENT TASK STRATEGIES DURING UNANTICIPATED CUTTING MANOEUVRES – PILOT STUDY

The aim of this study was to describe different movement task strategies during unanticipated cutting manoeuvres based on initial foot contact and angle in the frontal plane at the instant of first contact with the ground. Four female athletes participated in this study. Nine infrared cameras and force platform were employed to collect the kinematic and kinetic data. Athletes used four different movement task strategies during unanticipated cutting manoeuvres (45°) in initial contact with the ground. The results of this pilot study showed that combination of rearfoot strike and knee valgus angle position at the initial contact may increase the risk of an ACL injury

Strategies for a self-selected unanticipated cutting maneuver and the risk for ACL injury: Findings from HAIE study

The purpose of the study was twofold: 1) to qualitatively investigate the different change of direction (COD) strategies used by females in an ecological situation; and 2) to evaluate the knee internal adduction moment and knee flexion during the first 30% of support as risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during these strategies. Ninety-four females, classified in ACTIVE and NON-ACTIVE groups performed five trials of a COD maneuver that were subsequently qualitatively evaluated. Kinematic and ground reaction force data were analyzed in the first 30% of support. To assess differences between strategies, we used a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Four strategies of 45° COD maneuvers were found. The different strategies involved either a cross-over with the right or left leg or had no cross-over. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences with a lesser knee internal adduction moment (p<.05) and a greater knee flexion angle during the strategies with a cross-over of the right foot compared to the other strategies (p<.05). Therefore, it is important to consider the potential effect of different strategies on ACL injury risk factors, as ACL injury risk factors may vary depending on the specific directional technique used

LANDING PATTERNS AFTER BLOCK IN VOLLEYBALL: APLICATION FOR ACL INJURY

The aim of the present study was to describe landing patterns during initial phase (0-30° knee flexion) of “go” landing after block in volleyball. Nineteen elite female volleyball players served as participants in this study. Eight infrared cameras and two force platforms were employed to collect the kinematic and kinetic data. The players used four different landing patterns during initial phase of the “go” landing after block. The players landed with different knee angle positions at initial contact depending on landing pattern. Results of the current study generally suggest that players may protect the ACL during the initial phase of landing by decreasing knee frontal plane angle and moment in direction from valgus to varus position

TRENDELENBURG TEST AND ACL RISK FACTORS DURING UNANTICIPATED CUTTING MANOEUVRE – A PILOT STUDY

The aim of this study was to find differences between the Trendelenburg test and risk factors for an ACL injury during a cutting manoeuvre in two age groups. Six female athletes divided into two groups (n3x2) participated in this study. Ten infrared cameras and force platform were used to collect the kinematic and kinetic data. The results of this pilot study suggest no hip weakness was observed in either group. The younger group had a larger difference between starting and finishing position during TT. In other side we found the higher values of the ACL risk factors in the older group

BAREFOOT RUNNING WITH ELONGATED OR SHORTENED ACHILLES TENDON AFTER RUPTURE

The aim of this study was to compare the internal abduction moment in the knee joint during barefoot (BF) running by athletes who have experienced Achilles tendon (AT) rupture compared to a control group. The study featured 14 recreational runners without other acutemusculo-skeletal injuries. Three groups were created: with a shortened AT (n = 3), with an elongated AT (n = 6), and a control group (n = 5). Kinematic and ground reaction force data were synchronized and then used to calculate the internal abduction moment in the knee. The normalized maximum values of internal abduction moment in the knee joint of the affected limb for the experimental groups exceeded those for the healthy subjects(ES > 0.81). These data suggest that biomechanical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in limbs with a history of AT rupture may be increased during BF running