Knee anterior laxity: a risk factor for traumatic knee injury among sportswomen?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate if knee anterior laxity, measured with an arthrometer, is a risk factor for traumatic knee injury in sportswomen. To allow a more complete analysis, other, easily measured variables such as anthropometry, lower leg characteristics, sport exposure and menstrual cycle characteristics were also evaluated as possible risk factors. Subjects were Slovenian sportswomen aged between 11 and 41 years participating in basketball, team handball and volleyball (N = 540). Sportswomen were tested in the pre-season and followed for one season. The data collection included: written informed consent, background questionnaire, anthropometric tests, leg dominance assessment, navicular drop test (measurement of foot pronation), passive knee extension assessment and measurement of knee anterior laxity with a KT arthrometer. Several sets of data analysis were performed including logistic regression analysis in order to build a model for predicting traumatic knee injury among sportswomen. Height and average hours of training per week were found to differ significantly (P < 0.05) between injured and uninjured sportswomen. More sportswomen injured their non-dominant leg. Traumatic knee injuries among Slovenian sportswomen participating in basketball, team handball and volleyball are associated with higher amounts of training, greater body height and greater knee anterior laxity. Only 1% of the variability in traumatic knee injuries among sportswomen were explained with those variables suggesting that there are many other variables associated with traumatic knee injuries among sportswomen than were tested in this study.

A Greater Reduction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Elasticity in Women Compared to Men as a Result of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

“…Since female reproductive hormones could be a key factor that have an impact on musculoskeletal structure, future study should divide women into two groups: women with a normal menstrual cycle and women with ingesting OCP. Also, in previous studies, researchers found the greatest ACL elasticity and less knee stiffness during ovulation where estrogen concentration in the blood was highest compared to menstruation where estrogen concentration was lowest in young healthy women with a regular menstrual cycle (Zazulak et al 2006;Vauhnik et al 2008;Park et al 2009). This was believed to be caused by both estrogen and temperature fluctuation during the menstrual cycle.…”

“…*Significant changes from resting. Griffin et al 2000;Zazulak et al 2006;Vauhnik et al 2008). Higher level of estrogen makes women more susceptible to injuries (Chaudhari et al 2007).…”

“…Women are at greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury than do men (Arendt et al 1999;Griffin et al 2000;Zazulak et al 2006;Vauhnik et al 2008). Anatomical, neuromuscular, behavior patterns and hormonal differences between men and women make women more susceptible to ACL injuries (Griffin et al 2000;Barber-Westin et al 2009).…”

Rate and Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Among Sportswomen in Slovenia

“…We referred to these data as the preseason testing data; analysis of these data has been published. 12,13 At the same time, information for the following variables was collected: age, height, mass, age at menarche, use of oral contraception, regularity of menstrual cycle, duration of sport participation, training and game exposure per week, leg dominance, knee-extension passive range of motion, navicular drop, and knee anterior laxity at 3 different forces (15 Twelve teams were excluded from the analysis because they either did not complete the postseason questionnaire (2 basketball, 4 team handball, and 5 volleyball teams) or withdrew from the study (1 basketball team; no reason stated). The study was thus completed by 43 clubs and 585 athletes (49% of the target population).…”

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in children with open growth plates

“…Характерен ме-ханизм травмы, при котором происходит пере-разгибание голени в коленном суставе либо ее скручивание. При этом больные часто отмечают щелчок [1][2][3]. Часто при разрывах ПКС в пер-вые 24 часа возникает гемартроз коленного су-става, иногда в подколенной области появляется гематома [4].…”