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Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(13): 962-971
DOI: 10.1055/a-1171-1900
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Landing Evaluation in Soccer Players with or without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Ahmad Alanazi
1   Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al Majma’ah, Saudi Arabia
,
Katy Mitchell
2   Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University, Institute of Health Sciences– Houston Center, Houston, United States
,
Toni Roddey
2   Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University, Institute of Health Sciences– Houston Center, Houston, United States
,
Aqeel Alenazi
3   Physical Therapy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University College of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
,
Msaad Alzhrani
1   Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al Majma’ah, Saudi Arabia
,
Alexis Ortiz
4   Physical Therapy, University of the Incarnate Word School of Physical Therapy, San Antonio, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding: The authors would like to thank Deanship of Scientific Research at Majmaah University for supporting this work under Project Number: R-1441–111.
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate landing biomechanics in soccer players following ACLR during two landing tasks. Eighteen soccer players with an ACLR and 18 sex-matched healthy control soccer players participated in the study. Planned landing included jumping forward and landing on the force-plates, whereas unplanned landing included jumping forward to head a soccer ball and landing on the force-plates. A significant landing×group interaction was found only for knee flexion angles (p=0.002). Follow-up comparisons showed that the ACL group landed with greater knee flexion during planned landing compared with unplanned landing (p<0.001). Significant main effects of landing were found. The unplanned landing showed reduction in hip flexion (p<0.001), hip extension moments (p<0.013), knee extension moments (p<0.001), and peak pressure (p<0.001). A significant main effect for group for gastrocnemius muscle was found showing that the ACL group landed with reduced gastrocnemius activity (p=0.002). Unplanned landing showed greater injury predisposing factors compared with planned landing. The ACL group showed nearly similar landing biomechanics to the control group during both landing tasks. However, the ACL group used a protective landing strategy by reducing gastrocnemius activity.

Key words

soccer - landing - ACL reconstruction


Publication History

Received: 13 February 2020

Accepted: 20 April 2020

Article published online:
20 July 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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