Lower extremity energy absorption strategies at different phases during single and double-leg landings with knee valgus in pubertal female athletes
Mahdis Dadfar, Majid Soltani, Mohammadreza Basohbat Novinzad, Kaamran Raahemifar
Abstract
Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) malalignment affects the biomechanical characteristic during sports activities. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate mechanical energy absorption (MEA) strategies at initial contact (IC) and total landing (TL) phases during single-leg landing (SLL), and double-leg landing (DLL). Twenty-eight female athletes with DKV (age 10-14) were invited. MEA analysis of lower extremity joints was done in sagittal and frontal motion planes employing 8 Vicon motion capture cameras and 2 Kistler force plates. Statistical analysis was done using IBM Statistics (version24) by Bivariate Pearson Correlation Coefficient test. Knee extensors MEA during SLL (IC: P = 0.008, R = 0.522/TL: P < 0.001, R = 0.642) and DLL (IC: P < 0.001, R = 0.611/TL: P = 0.011, R = 0.525), and knee abductors during SLL (IC: P = 0.021, R = 0.474) were positively correlated with increased DKV angle. Ankle plantar flexors during SLL (TL: P = 0.017, R = - 0.477) and DLL (TL: P = 0.028, R = - 0.404), and hip extensors during SLL (TL: P = 0.006, R = - 0.5120) were negatively correlated with increased DKV angle. Compensated MEA in knee extensors was correlated with less ankle plantar flexion MEA during SLL (IC: P = 0.027, R = - 0.514/TL: P = 0.007, R = - 0.637) and DLL (IC: P = 0.033, R = - 00.412/TL: P = 0.025, R = - 0.485). These outcomes indicated a knee-reliant MEA strategy in female athletes with DKV during puberty, putting them at higher risks of ACL injuries during landing.