Ajit M Chaudhari1, Brenna K Hearn, Thomas P Andriacchi. 1. Stanford Biomotion Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4038, USA. ajit.chaudhari@stanford.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Increased valgus loading at the knee has been previously identified as a possible risk factor for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries, which are common in sports. Arm position variation may affect risk of injury by altering valgus knee loading. HYPOTHESIS: Sport-dependent variations in arm position increase valgus loading of the knee during run-to-cut maneuvers. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Eleven subjects performed a sidestep cutting maneuver, first with no arm constraints and then with 3 sports-related arm positions in random order (holding a lacrosse stick, holding a football on the plant side, and holding a football on the cut side). The analysis focused on the knee valgus moment relative to the arm positions during the landing phase of the activity. RESULTS: Arm position significantly influenced the valgus moment with an increase in the lacrosse trials and in the plant-side football trials but not in the cut-side football trials (alpha = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Constraining the plant-side arm results in increased valgus loading at the knee during run-to-cut maneuvers, which suggests the possibility of greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury during these conditions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that training methods that consider arm position as a risk factor could help reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament noncontact injury.
BACKGROUND: Increased valgus loading at the knee has been previously identified as a possible risk factor for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries, which are common in sports. Arm position variation may affect risk of injury by altering valgus knee loading. HYPOTHESIS: Sport-dependent variations in arm position increase valgus loading of the knee during run-to-cut maneuvers. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Eleven subjects performed a sidestep cutting maneuver, first with no arm constraints and then with 3 sports-related arm positions in random order (holding a lacrosse stick, holding a football on the plant side, and holding a football on the cut side). The analysis focused on the knee valgus moment relative to the arm positions during the landing phase of the activity. RESULTS: Arm position significantly influenced the valgus moment with an increase in the lacrosse trials and in the plant-side football trials but not in the cut-side football trials (alpha = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Constraining the plant-side arm results in increased valgus loading at the knee during run-to-cut maneuvers, which suggests the possibility of greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury during these conditions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that training methods that consider arm position as a risk factor could help reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament noncontact injury.
Authors: Sandra J Shultz; Randy J Schmitz; Anh-Dung Nguyen; Ajit M Chaudhari; Darin A Padua; Scott G McLean; Susan M Sigward Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2010 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.860
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