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Published on: September 18, 2020
Associations between single-leg postural control and drop-landing mechanics in healthy women
Christopher J Durall1, Thomas W Kernozek, Melissa Kersten
1Dept of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA.
Context:
Impaired postural control in single-limb stance and aberrant drop-landing mechanics have been implicated separately as risk factors for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, but associations between these variables has not been reported.
Objective:
To determine whether there are associations between single-limb postural control and drop-landing mechanics.
Setting:
University motion-analysis laboratory.
Design:
Single-leg-landing kinematic and kinetic data were collected after participants dropped from a hang bar. Postural-control variables COP excursion and velocity were assessed during single-leg barefoot standing on a force platform.
Participants:
A convenience sample of 24 healthy women.
Main Outcome Measures:
Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients.
Results:
Strong associations were measured between maximal knee-abduction moment and COP excursion (r = .529, P = .003) and average COP velocity (r = .529, P = .003). Strong inverse associations were measured between minimum hip-flexion angle and COP excursion (r = -.521, P = .003) and average COP velocity (r = -.519, P = .003).
Conclusions:
Participants with decreased postural control had higher knee-abduction moments and a more extended hip on landing, which have been implicated separately as risk factors for ACL injury. A longitudinal prospective analysis is needed to determine whether force-platform postural-control measures can identify athletes at risk for ACL injury.
