DO MULTI-PLANAR ACL INJURY RISK VARIABLES RANK INDIVIDUALS MORE CONSISTENTLY ACROSS TASKS THAN UNI-PLANAR VARIABLES?

The ACL injury mechanism is multi-planar, yet rarely are multi-planar variables examined in an injury risk context. This study examines if multi-planar variables rank individuals more consistently across multiple tasks than uni-planar variables. Forty-four female athletes performed bilateral drop vertical jumps, single-leg hops, single-leg drop vertical jumps and sidestep tasks on their dominant leg. Uni-planar (KMab) and multi-planar (KMnsag) variables of the knee were extracted and correlated between tasks. Participants was ranked according to KMab and KMnsag, and then grouped into quintiles for each task. When variables are consistently ranked across tasks, a movement signature is identified. In total, uni-planar movement signatures were identified more than multi-planar movement signatures. However, both undesirable multi-planar and uni-planar movement signatures were identified in unique participants. Multi-planar and uni-planar variables are both important when screening for undesirable movements

INITIAL EXPLORATIONS USING THE KNEE MOMENT VECTOR VERSUS THE KNEE ABDUCTION MOMENT TO IDENTIFY ATHLETES AT RISK OF ACL INJURY

The knee abduction moment (KM-Y) is a biomechanical risk factor for ACL injury, yet multi-planar loads are known to strain the ACL. The KM-Y alone is often used for injury screening and prediction. This study examined if the KM-Y alone would identify athletes with high knee moments. Forty five female participants performed a bilateral drop jump and single leg drop jump with each leg and their 3D motion characteristics and ground reaction forces were measured. The identification of “at risk” individuals was compared between KM-Y, the non-sagittal resultant moment and the resultant knee moment using a risk threshold of the mean+1.6SD. The KM-Y identified 60 and 70% athletes in each task whereas also using the non-sagittal resultant moment identified 90 and 100%. This suggests that transverse plane moments should not be ignored to identify at risk athletes

THE INTER-LABORATORY REPEATABILITY OF UNPLANNED SIDESTEPPING KINEMATICS

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury research has received much attention over the past 20 years. In this time, there have been many laboratory based clinical movement protocols developed to help characterise an individual’s injury risk in sport. Though many testing procedures exists, there is a paucity of research verifying the inter-lab reliability of these testing protocols. This places practical limitations on the ability to compare or share motion data between testing centres. The aim of this research was to help bridge this gap by assessing the inter-lab repeatability of an established sidestepping protocol. Results showed the inter-lab kinematics of unplanned sidestepping are repeatable ������������ ���� ��.02��) verifying this experimental protocol as a dependable between testing centres

Mechanical Interaction Within Badminton Forehand Shot Technique: A Review Paper

Background: The performance outcome model in qualitative technique analysis can determine the mechanical interactions between a performance outcome and the factors that yield such results in sports techniques. Very little attention has been received for badminton forehand shots for such model work, considering the significance of this technical skill as fundamental to play badminton and as important offensive shots. Objective: This study proposes a performance outcome model that associates performance criteria and relevant mechanical variables in the badminton forehand shot technique. Methods: Literature review provided the basis of model development. The Literature research in this paper was conducted in the following databases; PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar Medline, Pedro, and Cinahl. An additional search (including relevant grey literature) was also done on the internet through ResearchGate. Relevant literature research related to the keywords such as biomechanics of badminton, badminton forehand shot, biomechanical analysis, badminton performance, racquet sports, performance indicators, technique analysis and technique models were included and reviewed. Results: The results managed to present a synthesis of the literature review and provided constructive discussions as a basis to propose a performance outcome model that illustrates mechanical interactions that contribute to badminton forehand and shot technique performance. Conclusions: This model manages to find mechanical relationships and allows for a better grasp of understanding the association between performance criteria and mechanics in the badminton forehand shot technique, which is bases on the kinetic chain principle through the body segmental coordination

Mapping current research trends on neuromuscular risk factors of non-contact ACL injury.

The aim of this systematic review was (i) to identify neuromuscular markers that have been predictive of a primary non-contact ACL injury, (ii) to assess whether proposed risk factors have been supported or refuted in the literature from cohort and case-control studies, and (iii) to reflect on the body of research that aims at developing field based tools to assess risk through an association with these risk factors. Electronic searches were undertaken, of PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus examining neuromuscular risk factors associated with ACL injury published between January 1990 and July 2015. The evidence supporting neuromuscular risk factors of ACL injury is limited where only 4 prospective cohort studies were found. Three of which looked into muscular capacity and one looked into muscular activation patterns but none of the studies found strong evidence of how muscular capacity or muscular activation deficits are a risk factor for a primary non-contact ACL injury. A number of factors associated to neural control and muscular capacity have been suggested to be related to non-contact ACL injury risk but the level of evidence supporting these risk factors remains often elusive, leaving researchers and practitioners uncertain when developing evidence-based injury prevention programs

Mapping current research trends on anterior cruciate ligament injury risk against the existing evidence: In vivo biomechanical risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Whilst many studies measure large numbers of biomechanical parameters and associate these to anterior cruciate ligament injury risk, they cannot be considered as anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors without evidence from prospective studies. A review was conducted to systematically assess the in vivo biomechanical literature to identify biomechanical risk factors for non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury during dynamic sports tasks; and to critically evaluate the research trends from retrospective and associative studies investigating non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury risk. METHODS: An electronic literature search was undertaken on studies examining in vivo biomechanical risk factors associated with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury. The relevant studies were assessed by classification; level 1 - a prospective cohort study, level 2 - a retrospective study or level 3 - an associative study. FINDINGS: An initial search revealed 812 studies but this was reduced to 1 level 1 evidence study, 20 level 2 evidence studies and 175 level 3 evidence studies that met all inclusion criteria. Level 1 evidence showed that the knee abduction angle, knee abduction moment and ground reaction force were biomechanical risk factors. Nine level 2 studies and eighty-three level 3 studies used these to assess risk factors in their study. Inconsistencies in results and methods were observed in level 2 and 3 studies. INTERPRETATION: There is a lack of high quality, prospective level 1 evidence related to biomechanical risk factors for non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury. More prospective cohort studies are required to determine risk factors and provide improved prognostic capability

Biological maturation and its impact on overhand shot technique among young badminton players

Overhand shot technique is the most prevalent technique in badminton and is often emphasized by coaches during training. However an overemphasis on a particular technique might have a different impact on young badminton players who is undergoing puberty period. Previous studies had mentioned little on the impact of biological maturation in influencing sports technique. The aim of this paper is to review the overhand shot technique in badminton among young badminton players in the context of biological maturation impact. This includes the relationship between biological maturation, physical growth and overhand shot technique. The existing literatures have highlighted the potential impact of biological maturation on sport technique, particularly badminton overhand shot among young players. More in depth studies are needed on the impact of biological maturation in young badminton players on technical execution of the overhand shot for better understanding on this matter. Such work can be useful in ensuring an excellent shot technical proficiency and hence increase chance of winning the match in badminton among young badminton players