Knee joint kinematics and kinetics during a lateral false-step maneuver

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Cutting maneuvers are a known cause of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female basketball.
• Understanding the specific movements that lead to ACL injuries is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine knee kinematics and kinetics during a simulated lateral false-step maneuver in collegiate female basketball players.
• To determine if altering step width during a false step affects knee joint loading.

Main Methods:

• A crossover design study involving 13 female collegiate basketball athletes.
• Participants performed normal running, a 20% body height lateral false step, and a 35% body height lateral false step.
• Knee angles (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal/external rotation) and internal moments were measured.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in peak knee angles and internal moments were observed across the conditions.
• A 35% body height lateral false step resulted in increased peak knee flexion, abduction, internal rotation angles, and abduction, adduction, internal rotation moments.
• Peak internal rotation angle increased with greater step width.

Conclusions:

• The lateral false-step maneuver significantly alters knee kinematics and kinetics compared to normal running.
• These alterations are consistent with proposed mechanisms of ACL loading.
• Lateral false steps may represent a significant, previously underappreciated mechanism for noncontact ACL injuries in athletes.