Sagittal plane body kinematics and kinetics during single-leg landing from increasing vertical heights and horizontal distances: Implications for risk of non-contact ACL injury

• Published in: The knee Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 38 - 46
• Main Authors: Ali, Nicholas, Robertson, D. Gordon E., Rouhi, Gholamreza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2014; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anterior Cruciate Ligament - physiopathology; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; Ground reaction forces (GRFs); Humans; Joints - physiology; Kinematics; Kinetics; Knee; Knee Injuries - physiopathology; Knee Injuries - prevention & control; Ligaments; Lower Extremity - physiology; Male; Movement - physiology; Muscle Strength - physiology; Non-contact ACL injuries; Orthopedics; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Single-leg landing; Sports injuries; Studies; Torso - physiology; Non-contact ACL injuries; Single-leg landing; Ground reaction forces (GRFs); Kinetics; Risk factors; Kinematics
• ISSN: 0968-0160; 1873-5800; 1873-5800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2012.12.003

This study identified kinematic and knee energetic variables that reduce the risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during single-leg landings from increasing vertical heights and horizontal distances. Nine subjects performed single-leg landings from takeoff platforms with vertical heights of 20, 40, and 60cm onto a force plate. Subjects also performed single-leg landings from a 40cm high takeoff platform placed at horizontal distances of 30, 50 and 70cm from a force plate. Kinematic and kinetic data were measured. Vertical height had a significant and positive effect on peak vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) (p<0.001), peak posterior ground reaction force (PGRF) (p=0.004), knee flexion angle (p=0.0043), trunk flexion angle (p=0.03), knee power (p<0.001) and knee work (p<0.001). There was also a significant and positive effect of horizontal distance on peak PGRF (p<0.001), ankle plantar flexion angle (p=0.008), hip flexion angle (p=0.007), and trunk flexion angle (p=0.001). At increasing vertical height, peak VGRF was significantly correlated to ankle plantar flexion and knee flexion angles (r=−0.77, p=0.02 and r=−0.78, p=0.01, respectively). At increasing horizontal distance, peak PGRF was significantly correlated to ankle plantar flexion angle, knee power and knee work (r=−0.85, p=0.003; r=0.67, p=0.04; and r=0.73, p=0.02, respectively). A better understanding of the risk factors to non-contact ACL injury during single-leg landings from increasing vertical heights and horizontal distances can aid in the design of injury prevention regimen.