A comparison of kinematic demands placed on the knee and hip during two ACL return-to-sport screening maneuvers and an agility test

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study's purpose was to compare the kinematic demands placed on the knee and the hip during various biomechanical tests. DesignRetrospective cross-sectional design. SettingA university research laboratory. ParticipantsThe study sample consisted of 70 NCAA Division I female athletes. Main outcome measuresDuring the performance of three test maneuvers, a drop vertical jump (DVJ), single leg cross over hop (COH) and modified T-test (AT), the hip and knee joint angles at maximum knee valgus were obtained from marker displacement data collected using a 20-camera motion analysis system. A linear mixed model was used to compare the effect of test on joint angle. ResultsA significant difference (p < 0.001) in the frontal and sagittal plane position of the knee and hip was noted between the DVJ, COH, and AT tests at maximum knee valgus. ConclusionsThe DVJ, COH, and AT maneuvers do not appear to place the same kinematic stress on the knee, supporting the need for the development of return to sport tests that mimic on field demands.