Relationship Between Hip and Knee Kinematics in Athletic Women During Cutting Maneuvers: A Possible Link to Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Prevention

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to compare lower-extremity kinematics during a 45° and 90° cutting maneuver and to examine the relationships between lower-extremity rotations during these maneuvers. The hypotheses tested were that greater internal hip and knee rotation angles would be observed during the cutting maneuver at a 90° angle (90° cut) compared with the maneuver performed at a 45° angle (45° cut) and that the increased internal hip and knee rotation would be related to increased knee abduction measures. Nineteen athletes from women’s soccer teams (17.6 ± 2.1 yr, 165.6 ± 8.2 cm, 60.2 ± 5.6 kg) were instructed to jump across a line and cut at the appropriate angle (either 45° or 90° side-step cut) and in the appropriate direction. Lower-extremity kinematic measures were taken at peak force during the stance phase. Hip internal rotation and knee internal rotation (p = 0.008) were increased during the 90° cut compared with the 45° cut. Mean hip flexion (p < 0.001) was also greater in the 90° cut. The only significant predictor of knee abduction during both tasks was hip adduction (R = 0.49). The findings indicate that the mechanisms underlying increased knee abduction measures in athletic women during cutting tasks were primarily coronal plane motions at the hip. Trunk and hip focused strength neuromuscular training may improve the ability of athletic women to increase control of lower-extremity alignment. Therefore, these women may decrease dangerous knee loads that result from increased hip adduction during dynamic tasks, thus decreasing anterior cruciate ligament injury risk.

Volitional Spine Stabilization During a Drop Vertical Jump From Different Landing Heights: Implications for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

“…20,46 In response, controlling pelvic stabilization may influence knee-control measure outcomes. A VPAC activity, such as the ABM, may increase pelvic stability and, thus, improve lower extremity biomechanical responses.…”

Soldier-relevant loads impact lower limb biomechanics during anticipated and unanticipated single-leg cutting movements

“…When performing a single-leg cut, participants use significantly greater knee joint motions (McLean et al, 1998), and exhibit large frontal and transverse plane knee joint loads (Besier et al, 2001b). Because these kinematic and kinetic adaptations are consistent with mechanisms proposed to increase knee joint loading , researchers have extensively studied the effect sex (Malinzak et al, 2001;Pollard et al, 2004), technique (Dempsey et al, 2007) and cutting angle (Imwalle et al, 2009) have on lower limb biomechanics, particularly at the hip and knee. To date, however, it is not understood how body borne load impacts hip and knee biomechanical profiles during single-leg cutting.…”

The 2012 ABJS Nicolas Andry Award: The Sequence of Prevention: A Systematic Approach to Prevent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

“…The nine athletes who experienced subsequent ACL injury after testing had greater knee abduction angles (8 o ), 2.5 times greater knee abduction moments, and 20% greater ground reaction forces at landing compared with control teammates who did not sustain ACL injuries [36]. Our studies evaluating cutting tasks suggest neuromuscular mechanisms that increase knee abduction are primarily coronal plane motions at the hip [46]. Trunk-and hip-focused neuromuscular training programs that reduce coronal plane hip motion may be important for injury prevention strategies aimed to decrease knee abduction measures [46].…”

“…Our studies evaluating cutting tasks suggest neuromuscular mechanisms that increase knee abduction are primarily coronal plane motions at the hip [46]. Trunk-and hip-focused neuromuscular training programs that reduce coronal plane hip motion may be important for injury prevention strategies aimed to decrease knee abduction measures [46].…”