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SINGLE-LEG JUMP PERFORMANCE, KINEMATICS, AND ACL INJURY RISK IN FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS ACROSS MENSTRUAL PHASES

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to observe the relationship between single-leg jump performance, jump kinematics, and knee valgus during the various phases of the menstrual cycle in female college soccer players while identifying potential risk factors such as fatigue and leg dominance, which influence dynamic knee valgus, and may contribute to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. METHODS: Female collegiate soccer players (n = 21, age = 20 ± 1.4 yr) participated in this study. Prior to testing, participants’ legs, shanks, and thighs were measured, as well as the Q angle and hip rotation. The subjects performed 3 sets of 5 consecutive single-leg jumps on each leg with 10 seconds of rest in between. Dynamic knee valgus was measured at the most eccentric phase of landing for each jump using Dartfish motion analysis software. The dynamic knee valgus angles were averaged for both non-dominant and dominant legs for the first set, defined as pre-fatigue, and the third set, defined as post-fatigue, as well as in the luteal and follicular phases. Two-tailed t-tests were conducted. RESULTS: The results showed that the dominant leg showed significantly more knee valgus pre vs post-fatigue (P=0.002), the non-dominant leg in the luteal phase showed significantly more knee valgus pre vs post fatigue (P=0.02), and the dominant leg in the follicular phase showed significantly more knee valgus pre vs post fatigue (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study suggests that the dominant leg is more susceptible to ACL injury as the leg fatigues. During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, the dominant leg may be more at risk of an ACL injury while the nondominant leg may be more prone to injury during the luteal phase. Undergraduate Poster Honors WINNER

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