Neuromuscular dysfunction that may predict ACL injury risk: a case report

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Neuromuscular Physiology

Background:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female athletes, particularly in sports involving jumping and landing.
• Understanding neuromuscular control during landing is crucial for identifying injury risk factors.

Observation:

• A competitive female netball player's neuromuscular function was assessed using electromyography six days before sustaining an ACL injury.
• Muscle activation onsets of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, medial hamstrings, and gluteus medius were analyzed during netball-specific landings.
• The injured player's pre-injury muscle activation patterns were compared to controls and her contralateral limb.

Findings:

• The injured player exhibited delayed muscle activation onsets after initial contact (IC) in all tested lower limb muscles of the injured limb.
• This delay was absent in her non-injured limb, which showed patterns comparable to other participants.
• Delayed muscle onset after IC occurred more frequently with increased landing complexity.

Implications:

• Delayed neuromuscular response post-IC during landing may serve as a significant pre-injury risk factor for ACL tears.
• This highlights the potential for using neuromuscular assessments to predict and prevent ACL injuries in athletes.
• Targeted interventions focusing on improving muscle reaction times during complex landings could mitigate ACL injury risk.