Sex-Based Differences in the Drop Vertical Jump as Revealed by Video Motion Capture Analysis Using Artificial...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Kinetics

Background:

• Sex-based biomechanical disparities during the drop vertical jump (DVJ) are linked to higher anterior cruciate ligament injury rates in females.
• Video motion capture using artificial intelligence (VMocap) offers a novel and accurate method for analyzing athletic movements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-based biomechanical differences in Asian athletes during a DVJ using VMocap.
• To identify specific kinematic variations between male and female athletes in a controlled laboratory setting.

Main Methods:

• A controlled laboratory study involving 63 female and 61 male Asian soccer players.
• Bilateral DVJ performance analyzed using VMocap to calculate knee valgus angle (KVA), knee flexion angle (KFA), hip flexion angle (HFA), and lower leg anterior inclination angle (LAIA).
• Kinematic data were assessed at key phases: highest point of the first jump (H1), initial contact (IC), maximum knee flexion (MKF), toe-off (TO), and highest point of the second jump (H2).

Main Results:

• Females exhibited significantly greater KVA and LAIA at H1, IC, MKF, TO, and H2 compared to males (P < .01).
• At MKF, females showed decreased KFA and HFA (P < .01).
• At IC and TO, females demonstrated increased KFA compared to males (P < .01).

Conclusions:

• Asian female soccer players display distinct DVJ biomechanics, including increased knee valgus and lower leg anterior inclination, and altered joint flexion angles compared to males.
• Understanding these kinematic sex differences is crucial for developing targeted injury prevention strategies and improving athlete safety.