The effectiveness of STOP-X training program on knee valgus angle and balance in female basketball players with dynamic knee valgus

Abstract

Introduction: Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) along with poor balance is the cause of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes, and identification and correction of these factors are always of interest to researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of the STOP-X program on knee valgus angle, static and dynamic balance in female basketball players with DKV defect. Materials and methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental. The samples of this research included 30 female basketball players with DKV defect who were purposefully selected from the statistical population of female basketball players and were randomly assigned to two control (n=15) and experimental (n=15) groups. Dynamic knee valgus status was evaluated with the single-leg landing (SLL) test, static balance with the BASS STICK test, and dynamic balance with the Y-balance test (YBT). As a warm-up program, the experimental group performed the STOP-X program for 25-40 minutes for eight weeks (three times per week), and the control group did their traditional warm-up program. Data analysis was done by statistical analysis of ANCOVA and Paired-Samples T Test with SPSS version 26. Results: The results showed that with the use of the STOP-X program, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the variables of knee valgus angle (η2=0.72, P=0.001), static balance (η2=0.47, P=0.001), and total dynamic balance score (η2 = 0.74, P = 0.001). So that the experimental group performed better performance compared to the control group. Conclusion: It seems that applying STOP-X preventive warm-up exercises can improve static and dynamic balance in female basketball players with DKV defects, in addition to reducing the knee valgus angle. Therefore, it can be recommended to sports trainers to benefit from the advantages by substituting STOP-X preventive exercises instead of traditional warm-up.