Single Leg Squat Test and Its Relationship to Dynamic Knee Valgus and Injury Risk Screening

PM&R ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane Ugalde ◽  
Chuck Brockman ◽  
Zach Bailowitz ◽  
Christine D. Pollard
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Risk Screening ◽  
Single Leg Squat

scholarly journals The Relationship Between 2-Dimensional Knee-Valgus Angles During Single-Leg Squat, Single-Leg-Land, and Drop-Jump Screening Tests

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Munro ◽  
Lee Herrington ◽  
Paul Comfort
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
National League ◽  
Single Leg Squat ◽  
The Relationship

Context:Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and patellofemoral joint (PFJ) are a significant problem in female athletes. A number of screening tasks have been used in the literature to identify those at greatest risk of injury. To date, no study has examined the relationship in 2-dimensional (2D) knee valgus between common screening tasks to determine whether individuals exhibit similar movement patterns across tasks.Objective:To establish whether frontal-plane projection angle (FPPA) during the single-leg squat (SLS), single-leg land (SLL), and drop jump (DJ) are related.Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:University laboratory.Participants:52 national-league female football players and 36 national-league female basketball players.Main Outcome Measures:2D FPPA during the SLS, SLL, and DJ screening tasks.Results:Significant correlations were found between tasks. FPPA in the SLS was significantly correlated with SLL (r = .52) and DJ (r = .30), whereas FPPA in the SLL was also significantly correlated to DJ (r = .33). FPPA was significantly greater in the SLS than in the SLL (P < .001) and DJ (P < .001) and in the SLL than in the DJ (P < .001).Conclusion:The results showed that 2D FPPA is correlated across the SLS, SLL, and DJ tasks. However, significantly greater FPPA values in the unilateral tasks suggest that the DJ may not identify risk of injury in sports where primary injury mechanisms are during unilateral loading tasks. Therefore, it is recommended that both unilateral and bilateral tasks be included when screening for ACL and PFJ injury risk.

scholarly journals SINGLE LEG SQUAT COMPENSATIONS ASSOCIATE WITH SOFTBALL PITCHING PATHOMECHANICS IN ADOLESCENT SOFTBALL PITCHERS

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0006
Author(s):  
Gretchen D. Oliver ◽  
Kenzie B. Friesen ◽  
Regan E. Shaw ◽  
David Shannon ◽  
Jeffrey Dugas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Trunk Rotation ◽  
Lateral Flexion ◽  
Trunk Flexion ◽  
Backward Elimination ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Single Leg Squat ◽  
Tracking Device ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Softball pitchers have an eminent propensity for injury due to the high repetition and ballistic nature of the pitch. As such, trunk pathomechanics during pitching have been associated with upper extremity pain. The single leg squat (SLS) is a simple diagnostic tool used to examine LPHC and trunk stability. Research shows a lack of LPHC stability is often associated with altered pitching mechanics consequently increasing pain and injury susceptibility. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between trunk compensatory kinematics during the SLS and kinematics during foot contact of the windmill pitch. The authors hypothesized there would be a relationship between SLS compensations and pitch kinematics previously associated with injury. In using a simple clinical assessment such as the SLS, athletes, coaches, parents, and clinicians can identify potential risk factors that may predispose the athlete to injurious movement patterns. Methods: Fifty-five youth and high school softball pitchers (12.6±2.2 years, 160.0±11.0 cm, 60.8±15.5 kg) were recruited to participate. Kinematic data were collected at 100Hz using an electromagnetic tracking device. Participants were asked to complete a SLS on their stride leg (contralateral to their throwing arm), then throw 3 fastballs at maximal effort. Values of trunk flexion, trunk lateral flexion, and trunk rotation at peak depth of the SLS were used as the dependent variables in three separate backward elimination regression analyses. Independent variables examined at foot contact of the pitch included: trunk flexion, trunk lateral flexion, trunk rotation, center of mass, stride length, and stride knee valgus. Results: The SLS trunk rotation regression, F(1,56) = 4.980, p = .030, revealed trunk flexion significantly predicted SLS trunk rotation (SE = .068, t = 2.232, p = .030) and explained approximately 7% of variance (Adj. R2 = .066). The SLS trunk flexion regression, F(1,56) = 5.755, p = .020, revealed stride knee valgus significantly predicted SLS trunk flexion (SE = .256, t = 2.399, p = .020) and explained approximately 8% of variance (Adj. R2 = .078). Conclusion/Significance: Additional trunk rotation and trunk flexion at peak depth of the SLS indicate increased knee valgus and trunk flexion at foot contact of the pitch, both of which suggest poor LPHC stability, may increase the potential for injury. Athletes, coaches and clinicians should acknowledge the risk of poor LPHC in softball pitching and implement exercises to improve LPHC stability in effort to decrease pitching pathomechanics and associated pain.

Hip and ankle strength and range of motion in female soccer players with dynamic knee valgus

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Young Jin Jo ◽  
Young Kyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
External Rotation ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Strength Ratio ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Single Leg Squat

BACKGROUND: Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) is a known risk factor for acute and chronic knee injuries and is more frequently diagnosed in females. A real-time single-leg squat test (SLST) could screen for DKV to prevent injuries. OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in lower extremity strength and range of motion (ROM) in female soccer athletes with and without DKV during an SLST. METHODS: Eighteen subjects with DKV (DKV group) and 18 subjects without DKV (control group) during a single-leg squat were included. Hip strength (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation) was measured with a hand-held dynamometer. Hip ROM (internal and external rotation), and ankle ROM (dorsiflexion with the knee flexed and extended) were measured. Independent t-test was used to compare the averages of the groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in hip abduction to adduction strength ratio (DKV: 1.48 ± 0.3, control: 1.22 ± 0.26, p< 0.01) and ankle dorsiflexion with knee flexed (DKV: 17.22 ± 6.82, control: 21.22 ± 4.55, p< 0.05) and extended (DKV: 10.14 ± 4.23, control: 14.75 ± 3.40, p< 0.001) between the groups. CONCLUSION: The hip abduction to adduction strength ratio and gastrocnemius and soleus flexibility may be associated factors in dynamic knee valgus and therefore should be assessed and treated, if indicated, as a possible preventive measure in female athletes with this variation.

Preliminary Evaluation of Knee Kinetics in Female Athletes on Hormonal Contraceptives

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (02) ◽  
pp. 113-118
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Gilmer ◽  
Gretchen D. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptives ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Acl Injury Risk

AbstractRecently, an emphasis has been placed on understanding how ovarian sex hormones and hormonal contraceptives affect risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The literature presents large discrepancies in whether or not hormonal contraceptives affect ACL injury risk; therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and knee valgus force are different between athletes who do and do not use hormonal contraceptives. Twenty-two female athletes volunteered to participate and were divided into two groups based on their answers to a health history questionnaire: those who use hormonal contraceptives and those who do not. Participants performed a drop vertical jump (DVJ) and single leg crossover dropdown (SCD) at two different time points in their menstrual cycle (pre-ovulatory phase and mid-luteal phase). Kinetic data were collected at 1000 Hz. Independent samples t-tests revealed no significant differences between groups in vertical GRF and knee valgus force at both time points. Findings from this study suggest that hormonal contraceptives do not elicit detectable changes in vertical GRF and knee valgus force. Ultimately, this calls for further studies on the relationship between hormones and ACL injury risk and physicians to consider hormonal screening in addition to neuromuscular and biomechanical screening.

The Effect of Thigh Marker Placement on Knee Valgus Angles in Vertical Drop Jumps and Sidestep Cutting

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kam-Ming Mok ◽  
Eirik Klami Kristianslund ◽  
Tron Krosshaug
Keyword(s):  
Cross Talk ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Neuromuscular Control ◽  
Acl Injury ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Drop Jumps ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Marker Cluster

Knee valgus angles measured in sidestep cutting and vertical drop jumps are key variables in research on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury causation. These variables are also used to quantify knee neuromuscular control and ACL injury risk. The aims of the current study were to (1) quantify the differences in the calculated knee valgus angles between 6 different thigh marker clusters, (2) investigate the trial ranking based on their knee valgus angles, and (3) investigate the influence of marker clusters on the cross-talk effect. Elite female handball and football players (n = 41) performed sidestep cutting and vertical drop jumping motions. We found systematic differences up to almost 15° of peak valgus between the marker sets in the drop jump test. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient varied from .505 to .974 among the 6 marker sets. In addition, the cross-talk effect varied considerably between the marker clusters. The results of the current study indicate that the choice of thigh marker cluster can have a substantial impact on the magnitude of knee valgus angle, as well as the trial ranking. A standardized thigh marker cluster, including nonanatomical landmark, is needed to minimize the variation of the measurement.

Reliability of 2-Dimensional Video Assessment of Frontal-Plane Dynamic Knee Valgus During Common Athletic Screening Tasks

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Munro ◽  
Lee Herrington ◽  
Michael Carolan
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Error ◽  
Video Analysis ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Pain Syndrome ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Knee Valgus ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Single Leg Squat

Context:Two-dimensional (2D) video analysis of frontal-plane dynamic knee valgus during common athletic screening tasks has been purported to identify individuals who may be at high risk of suffering knee injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament tear or patellofemoral pain syndrome. Although the validity of 2D video analysis has been studied, the associated reliability and measurement error have not.Objective:To assess the reliability and associated measurement error of a 2D video analysis of lower limb dynamic valgus.Design:Reliability study.Participants:20 recreationally active university students (10 women age 21.5 ± 2.3 y, height 170.1 ± 6.1 cm, weight 66.2 ± 10.2 kg, and 10 men age 22.6 ± 3.1 y, height 177.9 ± 6.0 cm, weight 75.8 ± 7.9 kg).Main Outcome Measurement:Within-day and between-days reliability and measurement-error values of 2D frontal-plane projection angle (FPPA) during common screening tasks.Interventions:Participants performed single-leg squat and drop jump and single-leg landings from a standard 28-cm step with standard 2D digital video camera assessment.Results:Women demonstrated significantly higher FPPA in all tests except the left single-leg squat. Within-day ICCs showed good reliability and ranged from .59 to .88, and between-days ICCs were good to excellent, ranging from .72 to .91. Standard error of measurement and smallest detectable difference values ranged from 2.72° to 3.01° and 7.54° to 8.93°, respectively.Conclusions:2D FPPA has previously been shown to be valid and has now also been shown to be a reliable measure of lower extremity dynamic knee valgus. Using the measurement error values presented along with previously published normative data, clinicians can now make informed judgments about individual performance and changes in performance resulting from interventions.

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