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International Journal of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Volume 7 (2021), Article ID 7:IJPTR-176, 8 pages
https://doi.org/10.15344/2455-7498/2021/176
Research Article
Special Issue: Various Approaches for Rehabilitation Science-Vol III
Exercise Intensity and Type of Activity Effects Landing Mechanics and Increases Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Risk

David J Dominguese1,* and J. Derek Kingsley2

1Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science, Bradley University, USA
2Exercise Science and Exercise Physiology, Kent State University, USA
Prof. David J Dominguese, Department of Physical Therapy and Health Science, Bradley University, 1501 W. Bradley Ave, Olin Hall 344, Peoria, IL 61625, USA, Tel: 309-677-3293, Fax: 309-677-4053; E-mail: ddominguese@bradley.edu
17 August 2021; 11 September 2021; 13 September 2021
Dominguese DJ, Kingsley JD (2021) Exercise Intensity and Type of Activity Effects Landing Mechanics and Increases Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Risk. Int J Phys Ther Rehab 7: 176. doi: https://doi.org/10.15344/2455-7498/2021/176

Abstract

Background: There is a high prevalence of lower extremity injuries, specifically knee ligament injuries, associated with jumping and multi-directional movement sports. Deficient landing mechanics associated with some sports contribute to lower extremity injuries, specifically to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Evaluating the effects of fatigue (neuromuscular) and exercise intensities on landing mechanics is another component in the complexity of understanding factors associated with ACL injury.
Methods: Twenty recreational level athletes (10 M, 10 F; 22.5 ± 1.5yrs) volunteered. Eleven subjects performed the Lateral Hop Test (LHT, 5 M, 6 F) and nine subjects performed the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAT, 5 M, 4 F). The fatigue protocols included LHT for maximum time (43.5±10.7 sec) at a standardized cadence (60 bpm) or a 20 sec WAT followed by a Jump Landing Task (JLT). Subjects were randomly assigned to a fatigue protocol. All subjects performed three baseline JLT. Each subject had a control period of no activity (30 sec) before completing their assigned fatigue protocols a total of four times. Peak Ground Reaction Force (PGRF) values and LESS scores were collected after each JLT.
Results: There were no significant (p>0.05) three-way interactions for PGRF or LESS. In addition, there were no significant (p>0.05) main effects of time or fatiguing condition on PGRF. There was a significant main effect of time (F4, 64= 9.5, p= 0.0001, ES= 0.37) for LESS. Collectively, the data demonstrated that both fatigue protocols increased the LESS score by 21.7% from control to the 2nd attempt, 32.6% from control to the 3rd attempt, 26.1% from control to the 4th attempt, and lastly a 30.4% decrease from control to the 5th attempt.
Conclusion: The fatigue protocols produced different levels of fatigue and the data suggests that training with a landing strategy that has been shown to reduce ACL injury during different levels of fatigue may help to decrease high risk landing mechanics and reduce ACL injury risk.