Changes in biomechanical knee injury risk factors across two collegiate soccer seasons using the 11+ prevention program

Abstract

The 11+ injury prevention program effectively reduces injuries in high school-aged female soccer player, but the mechanism of the 11+ is unknown, particularly whether it impacts biomechanical risk factors associated with knee injuries. The purpose of this study was to report the changes in hip and knee biomechanics with use of the 11+ over two soccer seasons. Two collegiate women's soccer teams performed the 11+ for two soccer seasons. A control team was followed for one season. Athletes performed motion analysis of a drop vertical jump during preseason and postseason. Both groups had meaningful increases in peak knee abduction angle over the first season, and there were no meaningful changes in peak knee abduction moment over either season. The control group had bilateral decreases in knee flexion angle. The program did not seem to systematically impact biomechanical risk factors associated with knee injuries, with increases in peak knee abduction angle and no bilateral changes in frontal or transverse hip motion. The 11+ may have mitigated clinically meaningful decreases in knee flexion; however, as ACL injuries do not occur purely in the sagittal plane, it is unclear the impact of these changes. The results of this study indicate that the 11+ may require some modifications to impact landing biomechanics and potentially risky movement patterns, particularly when used in collegiate women over multiple seasons.

Injury Prevention in Youth Football Players : Training Effects and Programme Implementation

“…Limited positive effects on the jump-landing technique tests were found in the girls, whereas no effect was seen in the boys. The limited results are in line with other studies 7,52,78 . The improvements seen in the girls represented medium to large effect sizes, in knee flexion angle, TJA total score, two of the separate TJA criteria and number of jumps during TJA.…”

Differences in Knee Shape between ACL Injured and Non-Injured: A Matched Case-Control Study of 168 Patients

“…This has led to a rise in interest in the mechanism of ACL rupture, in risk factors, prevention of ACL rupture and secondary ACL injury. Neuromuscular and proprioceptive prevention programs have been demonstrated to significantly reduce the prevalence of ACL ruptures in young athletes by approximately 50% [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. However, these prevention programs can be more efficient if they focus on athletes who are at increased risk of sustaining an ACL rupture.…”

Effect of Lumbopelvic Control on Landing Mechanics and Lower Extremity Muscles’ Activities in Female Professional Athletes: Implications for Injury Prevention

“…The lower limbs account for approximately 60% of all the injuries in these sports [4]: 45-86% of acute knee and ankle injuries in basketball and volleyball [5] and 70% of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures in handball players [6] occur after a landing. The most important risk factors for these injuries include excessive knee valgus, lateral movements of the trunk, and poor pelvic stability [3,7]. The National Institute of Sports Rehabilitation has recommended strength exercises, stabilization, and control of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex in injury prevention programs [8].…”