Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a neuromuscular training (NMT) program on lower-extremity biomechanics in youth female netball athletes. The hypothesis was that significant improvements would be found in landing biomechanics of the lower-extremities, commonly associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, following NMT. Twenty-three athletes (age = 12.2 ± 0.9 years; height = 1.63 ± 0.08 m; mass = 51.8 ± 8.5 kg) completed two testing sessions separated by 7-weeks and were randomly assigned to either a experimental or control group. Thirteen athletes underwent 6-weeks of NMT, while the remaining 10 served as controls and continued their regular netball training. Three-dimensional lower-extremity kinematics and vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) were measured during two landing tasks, a drop vertical jump and a double leg broad jump with a single leg landing. The experimental group significantly increased bilateral knee marker distance during the bilateral landing task at maximum knee-flexion range of motion. Knee internal rotation angle during the unilateral landing task at maximum knee flexion-extension range of motion was significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05, g > 1.00). The experimental group showed large, significant decreases in peak vertical ground reaction force in both landing tasks (p ≤ 0.05, g > −1.30). Control participants did not demonstrate any significant pre-to-post-test changes in response to the 6-week study period. Results of the study affirm the hypothesis that a 6-week NMT program can enhance landing biomechanics associated with ACL injury in 11–13 year old female netball athletes.
Highlights
Adolescent female athletes experience non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at a 4–6 times higher rate than males participating in the same sports (Hewett et al, 1999, 2006)
Results indicated that the strength trained youth netball athletes were able to significantly increase their knee flexion angle at initial contact in the drop vertical jump task (DVJ) task and single leg landing (SL) landing task whilst the control group showed a decrease in knee flexion angle following the intervention
Myer et al (2005) found neuromuscular training (NMT) emphasizing deep knee flexion during plyometric and strength exercises significantly improves knee flexion angle during landing, which may decrease injury risk. This is similar to the results found in the current study, whereby the NMT program utilized placed a large emphasis on deep knee flexion during both the plyometric and strength components of the program, resulting in improved lower extremity biomechanics
Summary
Adolescent female athletes experience non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries at a 4–6 times higher rate than males participating in the same sports (Hewett et al, 1999, 2006). One possible explanation related to this observation is the absence of the neuromuscular spurt following maturation in female athletes, which results in neuromuscular imbalances in muscle strength and activation patterns (Myer et al, 2004) These imbalances increase loading on the joint increasing non-contact ACL injury risk. Designed and implemented neuromuscular training (NMT) programs have been shown to decrease ACL injury risk in adolescent female athletes by improving their neuromuscular control and dynamic knee stability (Myer et al, 2005; Chappell and Limpisvasti, 2008) It appears that NMT programs inclusive of both resistance and plyometric training are most effective at reducing non-contact ACL injury risk in female athletes under the age of 18 (Yoo et al, 2010). These programs focus on improving neuromuscular strength and control, proprioception, motor control, fundamental movement patterns and functional biomechanics, with the aim of decreasing ACL injury risk (Myer et al, 2005)
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