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How Young Girls Change Their Landing Technique Throughout the Adolescent Growth Spurt
Catherine Y Wild1, Bridget J Munro2, Julie R Steele3
1School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Bentley, Australia Biomechanics Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia catherine.wild@curtin.edu.au.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
|February 26, 2016
Summary
Adolescent girls change their landing technique during growth spurts, increasing hip flexion and knee abduction moments. This altered biomechanics may elevate anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in later puberty.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Adolescent Growth
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Adolescent girls undergo significant musculoskeletal changes during growth spurts.
- Lower limb landing technique changes in girls during this period are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally track changes in 3D lower limb kinematics.
- To analyze joint moments and muscle activation during a horizontal landing task in girls.
- To understand landing technique evolution throughout the adolescent growth spurt.
Main Methods:
- Study included 33 healthy girls aged 10-13 years.
- Participants were tested up to 4 times during their growth spurt.
- Collected ground-reaction forces, muscle activity, and kinematic data during a horizontal leap and landing.
Main Results:
- Girls showed decreased knee flexion and increased hip flexion during landing.
- External knee abduction moments increased, while hip adduction moments decreased.
- Significant changes in lower limb biomechanics were observed throughout the growth spurt.
Conclusions:
- Pubescent girls alter their lower limb landing strategy during the adolescent growth spurt.
- This changing strategy may increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
- Findings aid in developing screening tools for at-risk landing biomechanics in puberty.
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