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ABSTRACT: Context
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female athletes and are related to poor neuromuscular control. Comprehensive neuromuscular training has been shown to improve biomechanics; however, we do not know which component of neuromuscular training is most responsible for the changes.Objective
To assess the efficacy of either a 4-week core stability program or plyometric program in altering lower extremity and trunk biomechanics during a drop vertical jump (DVJ).Design
Cohort study.Setting
High school athletic fields and motion analysis laboratory.Patients or other participants
Twenty-three high school female athletes (age = 14.8 ± 0.8 years, height = 1.7 ± 0.07 m, mass = 57.7 ± 8.5 kg).Intervention(s)
Independent variables were group (core stability, plyometric, control) and time (pretest, posttest). Participants performed 5 DVJs at pretest and posttest. Intervention participants engaged in a 4-week core stability or plyometric program.Main outcome measure(s)
Dependent variables were 3-dimensional hip, knee, and trunk kinetics and kinematics during the landing phase of a DVJ. We calculated the group means and associated 95% confidence intervals for the first 25% of landing. Cohen d effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all differences.Results
We found within-group differences for lower extremity biomechanics for both intervention groups (P ? .05). The plyometric group decreased the knee-flexion and knee internal-rotation angles and the knee-flexion and knee-abduction moments. The core stability group decreased the knee-flexion and knee internal-rotation angles and the hip-flexion and hip internal-rotation moments. The control group decreased the knee external-rotation moment. All kinetic changes had a strong effect size (Cohen d > 0.80).Conclusions
Both programs resulted in biomechanical changes, suggesting that both types of exercises are warranted for ACL injury prevention and should be implemented by trained professionals.
SUBMITTER: Pfile KR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3718347 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul-Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Journal of athletic training 20130614 4
<h4>Context</h4>Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in female athletes and are related to poor neuromuscular control. Comprehensive neuromuscular training has been shown to improve biomechanics; however, we do not know which component of neuromuscular training is most responsible for the changes.<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the efficacy of either a 4-week core stability program or plyometric program in altering lower extremity and trunk biomechanics during a drop vertical jump (D ...[more]