Anticipatory Effects on Lower Extremity Neuromechanics During a Cutting Task

Abstract

Context Continued research into the mechanism of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury helps to improve clinical interventions and injury-prevention strategies. A better understanding of the effects of anticipation on landing neuromechanics may benefit training interventions. Objective To determine the effects of anticipation on lower extremity neuromechanics during a single-legged land-and-cut task. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting University biomechanics laboratory. Participants Eighteen female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate soccer players (age = 19.7 ± 0.8 years, height = 167.3 ± 6.0 cm, mass = 66.1 ± 2.1 kg). Intervention(s) Participants performed a single-legged land-and-cut task under anticipated and unanticipated conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s) Three-dimensional initial contact angles, peak joint angles, and peak internal joint moments and peak vertical ground reaction forces and sagittal-plane energy absorption of the 3 lower extremity joints; muscle activation of selected hip- and knee-joint muscles. Results Unanticipated cuts resulted in less knee flexion at initial contact and greater ankle toe-in displacement. Unanticipated cuts were also characterized by greater internal hip-abductor and external-rotator moments and smaller internal knee-extensor and external-rotator moments. Muscle-activation profiles during unanticipated cuts were associated with greater activation of the gluteus maximus during the precontact and landing phases. Conclusions Performing a cutting task under unanticipated conditions changed lower extremity neuromechanics compared with anticipated conditions. Most of the observed changes in lower extremity neuromechanics indicated the adoption of a hip-focused strategy during the unanticipated condition.

Are biomechanical stability deficits during unplanned single-leg landings related to specific markers of cognitive function?

“…Therefore, investigating the TTS under unplanned affordances and the inclusion of individuals with a history of severe injuries of the lower limb may be worthwhile. While other authors found alterations of pGRF, 28,47 we observed not such a effect. Therefore, it can be assumed that the study participants were able to equally absorb the landing impact in both conditions, probably by a sufficient degree of anticipatory muscle activity shortly before ground contact and the avoidance of stiff landings (low joint flexion angles of the lower limb).…”

“…counter-movement jumps or cuttings) are pre-planned in nature and performed in a highly predictable environment. 17,28 While being easy to use and safe to apply, they do not optimally reflect the dynamic and complex affordances athletes need to deal with during competition. Motor-cognitive multitasking and time constraints represent two prime hallmarks of real-sports situations that may increase the odds of sustaining a trauma: On the pitch, athletes process a multitude of visual stimuli (e.g.…”

“…19 An exclusive reliance on planned movements (as occurring during isolated counter-movement, squat-or drop jumps often used in conventional training and testing) is, therefore, possible only to a limited degree. 28 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.09.003 1440-2440/© 2019 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.…”

“…Similar findings were made by other trials. 28,47 Although it seems highly plausible that dealing with the unforeseen circumstances occurring in sports requires substantial cognitive resources (e.g. attention, reaction time or inhibitory control), 39 only one study has investigated the association between cognitive function and unplanned landing stability/success.…”

Biomechanical Signals of Varied Modality and Location Contribute Differently to Recognition of Transient Locomotion

“…A more complex, combined cut and stair ascent transition requires both horizontal and vertical alterations placing even higher demands on the neuromuscular control system. The control of dynamic stability and balance was shown to further deteriorate when such maneuvers were performed under unanticipated conditions [ 18 , 19 ]. Anticipatory neuromotor control is dependent on sensory inputs and is significantly influenced by an individual’s knowledge of upcoming motion, and their ability to integrate sensory information.…”