Sex differences in lower extremity biomechanics during single leg landings

Abstract

Females in this study appear to adopt a single leg landing style using less hip and knee flexion, absorbing less total lower body energy with more relative energy at the ankle resulting in a landing style that can be described as stiff. This may potentially cause increased demands on non-contractile components of the lower extremity. Preventative training programs designed to prevent knee injury may benefit from the biomechanical description of sex-specific landing methods demonstrated by females in this study by focusing on the promotion of more reliance on using the contractile components to absorb impact energy during landings.

Whole body kinematics and knee moments that occur during an overhead catch and landing task in sport

“…Although apparently different to the literature (Lephart et al, 2002, Decker et al, 2003, Kernozek et al, 2008) the majority of hip flexion angles identified in this study were similar to those seen during actual injury episodes, particularly those around where the highest valgus moments occurred (Krosshaug et al, 2007). As we proposed for the knee, increasing hip flexion at initial contact may reduce the range the athlete has available to flex the lower limb (Schmitz et al, 2007, Norcross et al, 2010). This will thereby reduce time over with force absorption occurs resulting in higher peak moments.…”

“…Furthermore, reduced peak knee flexion during landing tasks has previously been associated with an increased risk of suffering an ACL injury (Hewett et al, 2005). It may be that athletes who make initial contact with a more extended knee joint, and then move into flexion, increase the time over which the force is absorbed and, therefore, reduce peak loading (Schmitz et al, 2007, Norcross et al, 2010. Therefore, there may be a compromise between the best knee flexion angle at initial contact, where the level of flexion in early landing is sufficiently high to ensure low ACL strain from the applied load (Markolf et al, 1995), while still remaining sufficiently extended to allow sufficient flexion post landing.…”

Effects of Combined Exercise on Injury Risk Factors of Lower Extremity during Landing

“…(Table 2) (Schmitz et al, 2007;Sigward et al, 2012;Yeow et al, 2010Yeow et al, , 2011. 본 연구에서는 하지손상요인 중 그 크기의 증가가 근골격 손상의 위험성을 높일 수 있 는 평균충격력 (Yeow et al, 2010)이 복합운동 참여 후 통 계적으로 유의하지 않지만 참여 전보다 상대적으로 감소 하는 경향을 나타냈다.…”

“…따라서 손상예방을 위해서는 착지동안 올바른 자세 와 충분한 충격흡수가 이루어져한다 (Yeow et al, 2010(Yeow et al, , 2011. 이때 엉덩관절과 무릎관절에서 충격흡수가 이루어 지고 (Schmitz, Kulas, Perrin, Riemann, & Shultz, 2007;Sigward, Pollard, & Powers, 2012), 시상면에서의 넓은 관절가동범위가 충격흡수에 영향을 미친다고 하였다 (Yeow et al, 2011). 착지동작 시 충격흡수는 신체중심의 변위와 충격력과의 관계인 수직강성(vertical stiffness)과 관련이 있다.…”

ACL Research Retreat V: An Update on ACL Injury Risk and Prevention, March 25–27, 2010, Greensboro, NC

“…16,17 Females typically display a more erect or upright posture when contacting the ground during the early stages of deceleration tasks. [18][19][20][21] However, the magnitude of these differences may be task dependent (abstract #26, Benjaminse et al What We Don't Know 1. Which biomechanical and neuromuscular profiles cause noncontact ACL rupture?…”