THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN Y-BALANCE TEST SCORES AND KNEE MOMENTS DURING SINGLE-LEG JUMP-LANDING IN NETBALL

Dynamic balance and explosive strength appears to better explain single leg hop test results among young elite female basketball athletes

To analyze the impact of balance, lower-limb explosive strength and anthropometric variables on the result of the hop test in young elite female basketball athletes. Ninety young elite female basketball athletes (13-17 years), without current or recent lower-limb injury, were assessed in the off-season period of July 2021. Single leg hop test, countermovement jump, Y balance test and anthropometric outcomes were assessed. A correlation study and a regression model were performed to investigate the influence of such outcomes and the value of their participation on the hop test results. It was found a low-to-moderate correlation effect size for both countermovement jump (distance and power flight) and Y balance test values (except interlimb outcomes) with the single leg hop test results. Anthropometric outcomes did not show significant correlation (p > 0.05). Regression model revealed that for right hop test, countermovement jump values exhibited an adjusted determination coefficient of 0.408, (β = 0.249, p = 0.013), For left hop test, again the countermovement jump values (β = 0.229, p = 0.025), and left Y balance test values (β = 0.331, p = 0.011) jointly obtained an adjusted determination coefficient of 0.263 significant predictive value for countermovement jump outcomes in both right (β = 0.249, p = 0.013; β = 0.301; p = 0.031) and left leg (β = 0.229, p = 0.025; β = 0.365, p = 0.040), as well as certain Y balance outcomes values. Explosive strength, and dynamic balance although to a lesser extent, appear to be the most relevant physical-functional factors influencing the single leg hop test results among young elite female basketball athletes. These findings may a serve as a basis to implement targeted interventions, such as plyometric and balance training, for an enhancement on functional rehabilitation and reducing the risk of injury related to the hop test results.

The Association Between Functional Movement Screen Scores and Knee Valgus Moments During Unplanned Sidestep Cutting in Netball

Background

Regular employment of three-dimensional (3D) motion analyses to assess and monitor knee valgus moments; a contributor to non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury; during unplanned sidestep cutting (USC) is costly and time-consuming. An alternative quick-to-administer assessment tool to infer an athlete's risk for this injury could allow prompt and targeted interventions to mitigate this risk.

Purpose

This study investigated whether peak knee valgus moments (KVM) during weight-acceptance phase of an unplanned sidestep cut were correlated with composite and component scores of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™).

Study Design

Cross-sectional, Correlation.

Methods

Thirteen female national-level netballers performed six movements of the FMS™ protocol and three trials of USC. A 3D motion analysis system captured lower limb kinetics and kinematics of each participant's non-dominant leg during USC. Averages of peak KVM across USC trials were calculated and examined for correlations with composite and component scores of the FMS™.

Results

No correlations were found between FMS™ composite or any of its component scores with peak KVM during USC.

Conclusions

The current FMS™ did not show any correlations with peak KVM during USC on the non-dominant leg. This suggests that the FMS™ has limited utility in screening for non-contact ACL injury risks during USC.

Level of Evidence

3.

Cross-sectional study on relationships between physical function and psychological readiness to return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Information about specific factors of physical function that contribute to psychological readiness is needed to plan rehabilitation for a return to sports. The purpose of this study was to identify specific physical functions related to the psychological readiness of patients aiming to return to sports 6 months after reconstruction. We hypothesized that the knee strength is a factor related to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Return to Sport after Injury scale (ACL-RSI) cutoff score for a return to sports.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Fifty-four patients who had undergone primary reconstruction using hamstring tendon participated in this study. Psychological readiness was measured using the ACL-RSI in patients at 6 months after reconstruction. To identify specific physical functions related to the ACL-RSI score, participants were divided into groups with ACL-RSI scores of ≥ 60 or < 60. Non-paired t-tests or the Mann-Whitney test were performed to analyze group differences in objective variables in physical function: (1) knee strength in both legs; (2) leg anterior reach distance on both sides; and (3) single-leg hop (SLH) distances in three directions for both legs.

RESULTS

Significant differences between groups were identified in knee flexion strength (60°/s) for the uninvolved limb, hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio (60°/s) for the uninvolved limb, knee flexion strength (180°/s) for the involved limb, limb symmetry index (LSI) of leg anterior reach distance, the ratio of the distance to the height of the patient and LSI of SLH distances in lateral and medial directions.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that at 6 months after reconstruction, increased knee flexion strength (ratio of peak torque measured to body mass of the patient), hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio, leg anterior reach distance LSI, and lateral and medial SLH appear important to exceed the ACL-RSI cutoff for a return to sports. The present results may be useful for planning post-operative rehabilitation for long-term return to sports after reconstruction.

Association between Selected Screening Tests and Knee Alignment in Single-Leg Tasks among Young Football Players

This study aimed to examine the relationship between knee valgus in the frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) during single-leg squat (SLS), single-leg landing (SLL), and other selected clinical tests in young athletes. Forty-three young healthy elite football players (age: 13.2 (1.7) years) that were regularly training in a local sports club participated in the study. The FPPA was assessed using 2D video analysis. The screening tests included the passive single-leg raise (PSLR), hip external and internal rotation (hip ER and IR), sit and reach test, weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT), modified star excursion balance test (mSEBT), countermovement jump (CMJ), single-leg hop for distance (SLHD), and age peak height velocity (APHV). There was a significant positive relationship between the knee valgus angles in the SLS test and the sit and reach test (r = 0.34) and a negative relationship with the hip ER ROM (r = −0.34) (p < 0.05). The knee valgus angles in the SLL were negatively associated with the hip IR (r = −0.32) and ER ROM (r = −0.34) and positive associated with the WBLT (r = 0.35) and sit and reach test (r = 0.33) (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that the results of the hip ER ROM and sit and reach tests were independent predictors of the FPPA in the SLS test (r2 = 0.11, p = 0.03 and r2 = 0.12, p = 0.02, respectively). The conducted study showed that individuals with more hip range of motion, more spine flexion extensibility, and less ankle dorsiflexion ROM may be more likely to experience high degrees of knee valgus in FPPA.

The Applied Sports Science and Medicine of Netball: A Systematic Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Netball is the one of the most popular women's sports in the world. Since gaining professional status in 2008 there has been a rapid growth in research in the applied sports science and medicine of the sport. A scoping review of the area would provide practitioners and researchers with an overview of the current scientific literature to support on-court performance, player welfare and reduce injury.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective was to identify the current research on the applied sports science and medicine of netball. Additionally, the article provides a brief summary of the research in each topic of sports science and medicine in netball and identifies gaps in the current research.

METHODS

Systematic searches of PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE and CINAHL were undertaken from earliest record to Dec 2020 and reference lists were manually searched. The PRISMA-ScR protocol was followed. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they investigated netball as a sport or the applied sport science and medicine of netball athletes.

RESULTS

962 studies were identified in the initial search, 150 of which met the inclusion criteria. Injury was the most highly investigated sport science and medicine topic (n = 45), followed by physical qualities (n = 37), match characteristics (n = 24), biomechanics (n = 15), psychology (n = 13), fatigue and recovery (n = 9), training load (n = 4) and nutrition (n = 3). A range of cohorts were used from school to elite and international standards. All cohorts were female netballers, except for one study. A rapid growth in studies over recent years was demonstrated with 65% of studies published in the last decade. There still remains gaps in the literature, with a low evidence base for nutrition, training load and fatigue and recovery.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review summarises the current evidence base and key findings that can be used in practice to enhance the applied sport science and medical support to netball athletes across a range of playing standards, and support the growth of the sport. It is evident that netball as a sport is still under-researched.