The purpose of this study is to identify gender specific movement patterns that may predispose females to non-contact ACL injuries during sport activities, and to quantify the effects of a training program in altering 3otentially injurious lower extremity mechanics. In addition, an evaluation of the mechanical and neuromuscular demands of specific exercises included in a training program will be conducted. Three projects have been proposed to address these goals. The objective of Project 1 is to quantify gender differences in biomechanical and neuromuscular aspects of sport specific movements, and to determine how gender specific movement patterns vary across different stages of maturation. Eighty female and 80 male athletes will undergo biomechanical testing while performing cutting and landing tasks. It is hypothesized that after the onset of puberty, significant gender differences will be found at the hip and knee and that these differences will be suggestive of """"""""at risk behavior"""""""" with respect to ACL injury. The objective of Project 2 is to assess the influence of a training program in altering biomechanical and neuromuscular aspects of movement in female athletes, and determine whether a given response to a training program varies across different stages of maturation. One-hundred and eighty female athletes (90 intervention and 90 controls) between the ages of 12-24 will participate. Subjects in the intervention group will undergo biomechanical testing before and after participation in a 12 week exercise program that has been found to decrease the incidence of ACL injuries. It is hypothesized that following the training program, females will demonstrate movement patterns that are less suggestive of """"""""at risk behavior."""""""" The objective of Project 3 is to assess the mechanical and neuromuscular demands of specific exercises that are included in an injury prevention program that has been shown to reduce the incidence of ACL injuries. Biomechanical assessment of fifteen female athletes performing eight specific exercises will be carried out. It is hypothesized that the specific demands imposed by certain exercises within the intervention program will correspond to changes in hip and knee mechanics following participation in the program. Taken together, data from this study will address important questions related to the influence of gender, age and training on ACL injury potential, and will provide a foundation on which further investigation of injury prevention and rehabilitation can be based.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR053073-02
Application #
7047939
Study Section
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section (MRS)
Program Officer
Panagis, James S
Project Start
2005-04-15
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2007-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$326,161
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Pollard, Christine D; Sigward, Susan M; Powers, Christopher M (2017) ACL Injury Prevention Training Results in Modification of Hip and Knee Mechanics During a Drop-Landing Task. Orthop J Sports Med 5:2325967117726267
Sigward, Susan M; Cesar, Guilherme M; Havens, Kathryn L (2015) Predictors of Frontal Plane Knee Moments During Side-Step Cutting to 45 and 110 Degrees in Men and Women: Implications for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. Clin J Sport Med 25:529-34
Sigward, S M; Pollard, C D; Powers, C M (2012) The influence of sex and maturation on landing biomechanics: implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Scand J Med Sci Sports 22:502-9
Sigward, Susan M; Pollard, Christine D; Havens, Kathryn L et al. (2012) Influence of sex and maturation on knee mechanics during side-step cutting. Med Sci Sports Exerc 44:1497-503
Sigward, Susan M; Havens, Kathryn L; Powers, Christopher M (2011) Knee separation distance and lower extremity kinematics during a drop land: implications for clinical screening. J Athl Train 46:471-5
Lyle, Mark A; Sigward, Susan M; Tsai, Liang-Ching et al. (2011) Influence of maturation on instep kick biomechanics in female soccer athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43:1948-54
Pollard, Christine D; Sigward, Susan M; Powers, Christopher M (2010) Limited hip and knee flexion during landing is associated with increased frontal plane knee motion and moments. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 25:142-6