Countermovement Jump Kinetic Impairments in Elite Athletes Before and After ACL Injury: Force-Time Waveform Versus...

Pre-injury and post-injury countermovement jump (CMJ) force-time data were obtained for elite athletes 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament surgery (ACLR). Jump kinetics were analysed using a traditional phase-specific approach, and force-time data of the CMJ waveform were analysed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Elite athletes (n = 10; female n = 6, age = 22.0 ± 3.5 years, mass = 75.9 ± 11.5 kg) performed CMJ testing before (T0) and after ACLR (T1; 24 ± 3 weeks post-surgery). Differences in discrete and continuous metrics were analysed for (1) within-limb differences between T1 and T0 and (2) between-limb differences at T1 and T0. Lower involved limb propulsive impulse (T1: 6.4 ± 1.6 N∙s/kg; T0: 7.7 ± 1.4 N∙s/kg, p = 0.002) and peak force (T1: 6.4 ± 1.6 N/kg; T0: 7.7 ± 1.4 N/kg, p = 0.002) were found after ACLR compared to baseline. After ACLR (T1), lower involved limb propulsive impulse was found compared to the uninvolved limb (involved: 1.26 ± 0.54 N∙s/kg; uninvolved: 1.58 ± 0.56 N∙s/kg, p = 0.007). SPM analysis revealed specific within-limb force loss, notably reduced involved limb propulsion force at T1 compared to pre-injury at T0 (p < 0.001) between 92% and 99% of the CMJ (end of propulsion) and between 36% and 37% of the CMJ (i.e., late unweighting to braking phase transition). SPM analysis revealed within-limb CMJ force loss that was not seen with the discrete analysis, highlighting the complementary value of SPM waveform analysis alongside discrete analysis to identify neuromuscular impairments in stretch-shortening-cycle function in elite athletes after ACLR.