Comparison of Knee Moments and Landing Patterns During a Lateral Cutting Maneuver: Shod Vs. Barefoot

Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries often occur during lateral cutting maneuvers, in which extension, adduction, and external rotation create high loads on the ACL. The aim of this study was to examine knee moments and foot strike patterns during lateral cutting when shod (SD) and barefoot (BF). Fifteen NCAA Division III athletes (7 female and 8 male; age 20.2 ± 1.5 years; mass 71.5 ± 11.3 kg; height, 1.7 ± 0.06 m) without lower limb pathologies were analyzed during 5 trials of 45° lateral cutting maneuvers for each limb in both BF and SD conditions with the approach speed of 4.3 m·s. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected using an 8-camera motion capture system and a force plate with collection rates at 240 Hz and 2400 Hz, respectively. Paired t-tests were used to determine differences conditions. The SD condition produced a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater peak adduction moment and cutting, whereas BF caused more anterior foot strike. Lateral cutting when BF places no more stress on the ACL than when SD. Our findings suggest that lateral cutting maneuvers when BF will not increase stress on the ACL.