The Drop-Jump Screening Test

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank R. Noyes ◽  
Sue D. Barber-Westin ◽  
Cassie Fleckenstein ◽  
Cathy Walsh ◽  
John West
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Separation Distance ◽  
Neuromuscular Training ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Limb Alignment ◽  
Lower Limb Alignment ◽  
Male Athletes

Background A valgus lower limb alignment has been noted during noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries. A video dropjump test can indicate an athlete's ability to control lower limb axial alignment in the coronal plane. Hypotheses Female athletes have decreased knee separation distances on landing and acceleration; male athletes have a neutrally aligned lower limb position. A neuromuscular training program will significantly increase knee separation distance in female athletes. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods The authors tested 325 female and 130 male athletes aged 11 to 19 years. The distance between the hips, knees, and ankles was measured during a drop-jump test. The separation distance between the knees and ankles was normalized by the hip separation distance. A neuromuscular training program (Sportsmetrics) was completed by 62 female athletes, and their jump-landing characteristics were reexamined. Results A marked decrease in knee separation distance was found on takeoff in 80% of female athletes and in 72% of male athletes. There was no difference between male and female athletes in the normalized knee and ankle separation distance during the landing and takeoff phases. The knee separation distance on landing was 23 ± 9 cm in the female athletes and 22 ± 8 cm in the male athletes. The normalized knee separation distance was 51% ± 19% in the female athletes and 51% ± 15% in the male athletes. After training, statistically significant increases were found in the female athletes in the knee separation distance on landing (29 ± 8 cm, P<. 0001) and in the normalized knee separation distance (68% ± 18%, P<. 0001). The trained female athletes had significantly greater knee separation distance and normalized knee separation distance than did the males (P<. 0001). Conclusions The majority of untrained female and male athletes demonstrated a valgus alignment appearance on the video test. After neuromuscular training, female athletes had improved knee separation distances and a more neutral lower limb alignment on landing and takeoff.

scholarly journals Effects of a neuromuscular training program using external focus attention cues in male athletes with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized clinical trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Ghaderi ◽  
Amir Letafatkar ◽  
Abbey C. Thomas ◽  
Sohrab Keyhani
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Neuromuscular Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract Background Athletes who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction often exhibit persistent altered biomechanics and impaired function. Neuromuscular training programs appear to be effective for reducing high-risk landing mechanics and preventing primary ACL injuries; however, there have been few attempts to examine their effects in athletes who have undergone ACL reconstruction. The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of a neuromuscular training program that emphasizes external focus of attention cuing on biomechanics, knee proprioception, and patient-reported function in athletes who had undergone ACL reconstruction and completed conventional post-operative rehabilitation. Methods Twenty-four male athletes who had undergone primary, unilateral, hamstring autograft ACL reconstruction and completed conventional post-operative rehabilitation were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 12) who took part in an 8-week neuromuscular training program or a control group (n = 12) who continued a placebo program. The neuromuscular training program included lower extremity strengthening and plyometric exercises, balance training, and movement pattern re-training. Biomechanics during single-leg landing, knee proprioception, and patient-reported function were assessed before and after the 8-week training period. Results Athletes in the experimental group demonstrated increased trunk, hip, and knee flexion angles and decreased knee abduction, internal rotation angles and knee valgus during landing following the intervention. Further, the experimental group decreased their peak knee extension and abduction moments and vertical ground reaction force on landing post-intervention. International Knee Documentation Committee questionnaire (IKDC) scores increased in the experimental group following training. The control group demonstrated no changes in any variable over the same time period. Conclusions Neuromuscular training with external focus of attention cueing improved landing biomechanics in patients after ACL reconstruction. Neuromuscular training programs beneficially mitigate second ACL injury risk factors and should be emphasized during and after traditional post-operative rehabilitation. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials using the IRCT website with ID number of, IRCT20180412039278N1 “Prospectively registered” at 21/12/2018.

Assessment of Lower Limb Neuromuscular Control in Prepubescent Athletes

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 1853-1860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue D. Barber-Westin ◽  
Marc Galloway ◽  
Frank R. Noyes ◽  
George Corbett ◽  
Catherine Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Neuromuscular Control ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Separation Distance ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Limb Alignment ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knee Ligament ◽  
Jump Test

Background Although neuromuscular indices have been extensively studied in adolescents and adults, limited data exist for prepubescent children. Hypothesis No differences exist between prepubescent boys and girls in lower limb strength, symmetry on single-legged hop testing, and limb alignment during drop-jump testing. Study Design Cross-sectional study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 1. Methods The authors tested 27 female and 25 male athletes who were aged 9 to 10 years and matched for both body mass index and years of organized sports participation. In a drop-jump screening test, the distance between the right and left hips, knees, and ankles was measured as an indicator of lower limb axial alignment in the coronal plane. The distance between the knees and ankles was normalized by the hip separation distance. Quadriceps and hamstrings strengths were measured isokinetically at 180 deg/s. Lower limb symmetry was determined from 2 single-legged hop function tests. Results Boys demonstrated greater mean absolute and normalized knee and ankle separation distances on the drop-jump test. Even so, 76% of boys had a normalized knee separation distance of 60% or less of the hip separation distance, as did 93% of girls, indicating a distinctly valgus alignment. There were no differences between the sexes in quadriceps and hamstrings peak torques, hamstrings/quadriceps ratio, time to peak torque, total work, or lower limb symmetry values. Conclusions A high percentage of the prepubescent athletes studied had a distinctly valgus lower limb alignment during the drop-jump test and a lack of lower limb symmetry during the hop tests. These same indices have been hypothesized to increase the risk for knee ligament injuries in older athletes. Neuromuscular training may be needed to address these issues in children.

scholarly journals KINANTHROPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CORE

2020 ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
Strahinja Nikolić ◽  
Zlatko Ahmetović ◽  
Zoran Đokić
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Scientific Journal ◽  
Lumbar Region ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Limb Alignment ◽  
Lower Limb Alignment ◽  
The Core ◽  
Morphological Status ◽  
Lumbar Stabilization

The aim of this research is to investigate existing research dealing with the topic of the structure, functional and morphological status of the muscles that make up the body's core, as well as how improving the core affects the advancement of sports technique and its efficiency. The term core most commonly refers to the trunk, or more precisely, to the lumbar region. Core muscles play a significant role in lower limb alignment and stability, associated with poor alignment and injuries. The development of the core strength to improve the efficiency of sports performance is a controversial issue that has yielded different results. The analysis of the scientific journal articles revealed that the specificity of the program for increasing lumbar stabilization with the appropriate sport or skill is of the utmost importance. Therefore, it is necessary to specialize training facilities so that they are suited to a specific sport branch or discipline.

Confidence to Return to Play After ACL Reconstruction: An Evaluation of Quadriceps Strength Symmetry and Injury Mechanism in Male Athletes

2021 ◽  
pp. 194173812110438
Author(s):  
Rachel K. Straub ◽  
Francesco Della Villa ◽  
Bert Mandelbaum ◽  
Christopher M. Powers
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Quadriceps Strength ◽  
Injury Mechanism ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
The Relationship

Background: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), diminished quadriceps strength symmetry and reduced psychological readiness to return to play (RTP) increase the risk for subsequent injury. Although the relationship between quadriceps strength symmetry and psychological readiness to RTP has been reported to be influenced by injury mechanism in female athletes, it is unclear whether such a relationship exists in male athletes. Hypothesis: Quadriceps strength symmetry would be positively associated with greater psychological readiness to RTP after ACLR, regardless of injury mechanism. Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Level of Evidence: Level 3 (cohort study). Methods: Sixty male patients completed strength testing and the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport Scale (I-PRRS) at an outpatient clinical facility as part of return to sport testing after ACLR. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the I-PRRS and the independent variables of interest (quadriceps strength symmetry and injury mechanism). Results: For all patients combined, no symmetry × mechanism interaction was found ( P = 0.11). A significant positive relationship was found between quadriceps strength symmetry and the I-PRRS score ( P < 0.001, R2 = 0.31), after adjusting for time post-ACLR and injury mechanism. Conclusion: Greater quadriceps strength symmetry was associated with greater psychological readiness to RTP after ACLR in male athletes. In contrast to what has been reported in female athletes, this relationship was independent of injury mechanism. Clinical Relevance: Given the potential negative consequences of quadriceps strength deficits on one’s confidence to RTP, the need to restore quadriceps symmetry during the postoperative period is readily apparent. Low confidence or low psychological readiness to RTP may be indicative of quadriceps strength asymmetry or poor physical function in general.

Musculoskeletal Problems in the Female Athlete

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irfan M Asif ◽  
Emily Edwards ◽  
Kimberly Harmon
Keyword(s):  
Female Athlete ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Adhesive Capsulitis ◽  
Stress Fractures ◽  
Pubic Ramus ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Musculoskeletal Problems ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Musculoskeletal injuries in the female athlete are, for the most part, similar to those in the male athlete. However, there are differences in the incidence of these injuries and in the sports in which they tend to occur. Stress fractures are more common in the female athlete because of the higher prevalence of disordered eating and subsequent energy imbalance that leads to detrimental effects on bone. In addition, female athletes have a higher rate of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than male athletes. Other musculoskeletal problems are also more common in females, such as multidirectional instability of the shoulder, adhesive capsulitis, and patellofemoral pain. Finally, as a function of greater participation by females in certain sports, such as dance and gymnastics, injuries specific to those sports are more common in females. This chapter addresses injuries that are seen commonly in the female athlete and reviews unique issues related to exercise and the female reproductive system. Figures depict the management of stress fractures, a stress fracture of the inferior pubic ramus, the tension aspect of the femoral neck, stress fractures of the rib, multidirectional shoulder instability, adhesive capsulitis, spondylolysis, proper squat landing technique, and the female athlete triad. A table outlines the recommended intake of both calcium and vitamin D for bone health at various ages.This chapter contains 9 figures, 1 table, 59 references, and 5 Board-styled MCQs.

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