Influence of the trunk position on knee kinematics during the single-leg landing: implications for injury prevention. Issue 7 (9th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saito, Akira; Okada, Kyoji; Sasaki, Makoto; Wakasa, Masahiko
• Is Part Of: Sports biomechanics. Volume 21:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 810
• Page End: 823
• Publication Date: 2022-08-09
• Subjects: Anterior cruciate ligament -- knee angle -- quadriceps femoris -- hamstrings; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Human mechanics -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2019.1691642
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-3141

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of the trunk position during the single-leg landing on the knee angle and muscle activity. Forty healthy university students (20 men and 20 women) performed right single-leg landings from a 40 cm-high platform with the trunk in neutral, flexion, extension, and right and left lateral flexion. Knee flexion and valgus angles were determined by two-dimensional video analysis, and rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) muscle activities were assessed. The knee flexion angle was significantly higher in the trunk-flexion position than in the other trunk positions. The knee valgus angle was significantly lower in the trunk-neutral and trunk-flexion positions than in the trunk-extension, trunk-right-lateral-flexion, and trunk-left-lateral flexion positions. Muscle activity of the RF was significantly lower in the trunk-flexion position than in the trunk-extension position and that of the BF was significantly higher in the trunk-flexion position than in the trunk-neutral, trunk-extension, and trunk-right-lateral-flexion positions. Single (right)-leg landing with the trunk in flexion may confer a low risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury compared to that with the trunk in extension or right lateral flexion.