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Movement Patterns During a Jump-Landing Task in Athletes After Sport-Related Concussion and Healthy Control
Bobby Jean Lee1, Damond Blueitt2, Joseph Hannon1
1Texas Health Sports Medicine, Fort Worth, TX.
Journal of Athletic Training
|December 15, 2021
Summary
Athletes cleared for return to sport after sport-related concussion (SRC) exhibit altered knee biomechanics during jump landings. These changes, including increased knee valgus, may increase the risk of future lower extremity injuries.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Neurology
Background:
- A history of sport-related concussion (SRC) is linked to lower extremity injuries.
- Understanding post-concussion biomechanics is crucial for injury prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare jump landing biomechanics in athletes recently returned to play after SRC versus healthy controls.
- To identify potential biomechanical risk factors for injury in the SRC population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 21 SRC athletes and 21 matched controls.
- Motion capture and force plates assessed lower extremity joint kinetics and kinematics during double-limb jump landings.
- Key variables included internal knee-extension and varus moments, and sagittal-plane knee displacement.
Main Results:
- SRC athletes demonstrated significantly greater internal knee-extension moments in both dominant and nondominant limbs.
- Increased internal knee varus moments were observed in both limbs of the SRC group.
- The SRC group showed less knee-flexion displacement in the dominant limb during landing.
Conclusions:
- Athletes cleared for return to play after SRC exhibit greater knee valgus during jump landings compared to healthy controls.
- These altered landing mechanics may contribute to the elevated risk of lower extremity injuries post-concussion.
