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Ramachandran AK, Pedley JS, Moeskops S, Oliver JL, Myer GD, Lloyd RS. Changes in Lower Limb Biomechanics Across Various Stages of Maturation and Implications for ACL Injury Risk in Female Athletes: a Systematic Review. Sports Med 2024; 54:1851-1876. [PMID: 38671176 PMCID: PMC11257789 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02022-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Female athletes are four to six times more likely to sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury than male athletes. Jump-landing biomechanics are influenced by maturation, with post-pubertal female athletes at a heightened risk of ACL injuries. OBJECTIVE The aim of our systematic review was to identify and summarise the current evidence regarding the changes in kinematic and kinetic risk factors associated with ACL injuries during jump-landing tasks in female athletes at various stages of maturity. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE and Scopus. Articles were included if they: (1) conducted the research on uninjured female athletes with no restriction on playing level/experience; (2) provided information regarding the stage of the maturity and the scale used for estimating the maturity status of the participants; and (3) reported a biomechanical risk factor associated with ACL injuries during jump-landing tasks across at least two different maturity groups (e.g. pre-pubertal vs post-pubertal). RESULTS Sixteen articles involving 2323 female athletes were included in our review. A total of 12 kinematic and 8 kinetic variables were identified across these studies. Of the 12 kinematic variables reported in our review, we found strong evidence for higher peak knee abduction angle in post-pubertal female individuals compared with pre-pubertal girls (p < 0.05). With regard to the 8 kinetic variables, we found strong evidence for lower relative peak vertical ground reaction force, higher external knee abduction moment and internal rotation moment in post-pubertal compared with pre-pubertal athletes. The strength of evidence for the remaining kinematic and kinetic variables ranged from conflicting to moderate and, in some instances, could not be determined. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides an overview of the changes in biomechanical risk factors in female athletes during jump-landing tasks at various stages of maturity. We found moderate-to-limited evidence for most kinematic and kinetic variables, highlighting the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar Ramachandran
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK.
| | - Jason S Pedley
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK
| | - Sylvia Moeskops
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK
| | - Jon L Oliver
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK
- Sport Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ), AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory D Myer
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, GA, USA
- Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Rhodri S Lloyd
- Youth Physical Development Centre, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff, CF23 6XD, UK
- Sport Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ), AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Vianna M, Metsavaht L, Guadagnin E, Franciozi CE, Luzo M, Tannure M, Leporace G. Variables Associated With Knee Valgus in Male Professional Soccer Players During a Single-Leg Vertical Landing Task. J Appl Biomech 2024; 40:9-13. [PMID: 37775099 DOI: 10.1123/jab.2023-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Prior studies have explored the relationship between knee valgus and musculoskeletal variables to formulate injury prevention programs, primarily for females. Nonetheless, there is insufficient evidence pertaining to professional male soccer players. Here, the aim was to test the correlation of lateral trunk inclination, hip adduction, hip internal rotation, ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, and hip isometric strength with knee valgus during the single-leg vertical jump test. Twenty-four professional male soccer players performed a single-leg vertical hop test, hip strength assessments, and an ankle dorsiflexion range of motion test. A motion analysis system was employed for kinematic analysis. Maximal isometric hip strength and ankle dorsiflexion range of motion were tested using a handheld dynamometer and a digital inclinometer, respectively. The correlation of peak knee valgus with peak lateral trunk inclination was .43 during the landing phase (P = .04) and with peak hip internal rotation was -.68 (P < .001). For knee valgus angular displacement, only peak lateral trunk inclination presented a moderate positive correlation (r = .40, P = .05). This study showed that trunk and hip kinematics are associated with knee valgus, which could consequently lead to increased knee overload in male professional soccer players following a unilateral vertical landing test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Vianna
- Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Metsavaht
- Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Brasil de Tecnologias da Saúde (IBTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eliane Guadagnin
- Instituto Brasil de Tecnologias da Saúde (IBTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Franciozi
- Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcus Luzo
- Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Leporace
- Departamento de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Brasil de Tecnologias da Saúde (IBTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Peek K, Ford KR, Myer GD, Hewett TE, Pappas E. Effect of Sex and Maturation on Knee Extensor and Flexor Strength in Adolescent Athletes. Am J Sports Med 2022; 50:3280-3285. [PMID: 35993482 PMCID: PMC11157336 DOI: 10.1177/03635465221118081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite knee extensor and flexor strength reportedly being associated with injury risk, including rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in girls, there is limited evidence for the longitudinal changes in lower extremity strength. PURPOSE To investigate the sex-specific relationship with longitudinal changes of knee extensor and flexor strength associated with maturation. STUDY DESIGN Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS Adolescent boys and girls (N = 257; 208 adolsecent girls) participating in high school basketball, volleyball, and soccer were assessed longitudinally in at least 2 different pubertal stages. Pubertal status (prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal) was determined with the modified Pubertal Maturation Observation Scale questionnaire. After a warm-up of 5 submaximal repetitions, participants were tested for concentric peak isokinetic strength for knee extension and flexion at 300 deg/s over 10 repetitions and normalized to body weight. Linear mixed models were used to test for the effect of pubertal stage, sex, and their interaction. RESULTS Significant interactions were identified that indicated different maturational trajectories for knee muscle strength for adolescent boys and girls, particularly between prepubertal and pubertal stages, in which boys demonstrated greater mass normalized knee extensor increases than girls (right, +12% vs +5%; left, +13% vs +7%; P < .001). For knee flexors, boys demonstrated increased strength, while girls demonstrated decreased relative knee flexor strength (right, +4% vs -1%, P = .03; left, +3 vs -3%, P = .009). CONCLUSION The findings of this study support a differential effect of sex and maturation on important knee strength outcomes that may have implications for knee injury reduction, particularly in adolescent girls as they mature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Peek
- Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kevin R. Ford
- Department of Physical Therapy, Congdon School of Health Sciences, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gregory D. Myer
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center (SPARC), Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA
- Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy E. Hewett
- School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA
| | - Evangelos Pappas
- School of Medicine and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. Submitted March 10, 2022; accepted June 16, 2022
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Shultz SJ, Cruz MR, Casey E, Dompier TP, Ford KR, Pietrosimone B, Schmitz RJ, Taylor JB. Sex-Specific Changes in Physical Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury by Chronological Age and Stages of Growth and Maturation From 8 to 18 Years of Age. J Athl Train 2022; 57:830-876. [PMID: 36638346 PMCID: PMC9842121 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0038.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To critically assess the literature focused on sex-specific trajectories in physical characteristics associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk by age and maturational stage. DATA SOURCES PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched through December 2021. STUDY SELECTION Longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of healthy 8- to 18-year-olds, stratified by sex and age or maturation on ≥1 measure of body composition, lower extremity strength, ACL size, joint laxity, knee-joint geometry, lower extremity alignment, balance, or lower extremity biomechanics were included. DATA EXTRACTION Extracted data included study design, participant characteristics, maturational metrics, and outcome measures. We used random-effects meta-analyses to examine sex differences in trajectory over time. For each variable, standardized differences in means between sexes were calculated. DATA SYNTHESIS The search yielded 216 primary and 22 secondary articles. Less fat-free mass, leg strength, and power and greater general joint laxity were evident in girls by 8 to 10 years of age and Tanner stage I. Sex differences in body composition, strength, power, general joint laxity, and balance were more evident by 11 to 13 years of age and when transitioning from the prepubertal to pubertal stages. Sex differences in ACL size (smaller in girls), anterior knee laxity and tibiofemoral angle (greater in girls), and higher-risk biomechanics (in girls) were observed at later ages and when transitioning from the pubertal to postpubertal stages. Inconsistent study designs and data reporting limited the number of included studies. CONCLUSIONS Critical gaps remain in our knowledge and highlight the need to improve our understanding of the relative timing and tempo of ACL risk factor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J. Shultz
- Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
| | | | | | | | | | - Brian Pietrosimone
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Randy J. Schmitz
- Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
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