2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1121

Runing Technique Affects Knee Loading and Position During Sidestep Cutting Maneuvers

Di Xie, TaiAn, Shandong CHINA
Jianhong Qi, MD, Prof., Taian, Shandong CHINA
Jun Dong, MS, Taian CHINA
Qipu Yin, MS, Taian, Shandong CHINA
Shanshan Wei, MS, Taian, Shandong CHINA
Xiao Shi, Bachelor, Taian, Shandong CHINA
Yanming Zhang, MS, Taian, Shandong CHINA
Feng Gao, Bachelor, Taian, Shandong CHINA

Institute of Sports Medicine, Taishan Medical University, Taian, Shandong, CHINA

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: The results of this study highlighted that there are inherent differences in biomechanical outcomes between sidestep cutting maneuvers using two kind of running techniques.

Rate:

Abstract:

Background

Many non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female basketball athletes occur during sidestep cutting. Few studies have attempted to quantify the biomechanical parameters related with different running patterns during sidestep cutting maneuvers.
Hypothesis/Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects that midfoot and rearfoot running techniques have on lower extremity biomechanics during sidestep cutting maneuvers, with the hypothesis that rearfoot running with sidestep cutting will produce a significant increase in knee valgus angle, knee adduction moment, and decreased knee flexion angle compared to midfoot running.
Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Thirteen healthy female collegiate basketball athletes performed sidestep cutting movements with either a midfoot or rearfoot running technique; hip, knee, and ankle kinematic variables of the non-dominant leg were analyzed during the stop phase of the sidestep cutting maneuver. The subjects’ average age, height, weight, and history of playing basketball were 21.6 ± 1.7 years, 168.8 ± 6.9 cm, 59.0 ± 6.8 kg, and 8.0 ± 2.2 years, respectively. Approval for this study was obtained from the institutional review board of Taian Medical University (ID number, 201401). Maximum knee flexion angle, knee flexion angle at initial contact (IC), peak knee valgus angle, peak knee extension moment, peak knee adduction moment, peak hip flexion angle, peak hip adduction angle, peak ankle dorsiflexion angle, and peak ankle inversion angle between sidestep cutting maneuvers using midfoot and rearfoot running techniques were compared using a paired samples t-test. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for the comparison of the stop phase between sidestep cutting maneuvers using the two running techniques. The level of probability accepted as the criterion for statistical significance was p < 0.05.

Results

Subjects presented only one knee valgus angle peak during the stop phase of side step cutting maneuvers using rearfoot running. However, two knee valgus angle peaks were presented during the stop phase of sidestep cutting maneuvers using midfoot running. Rearfoot running had a longer stop phase, increased knee valgus angle, hip flexion angle, and peak knee flexion angle (p < 0.05). There were no significant difference in peak hip adduction angle, knee flexion angle at IC, peak ankle dorsi-flexion angle, peak ankle inversion angle, peak knee extension moment, and peak knee adduction moment (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The results of this study highlighted that there are inherent differences in biomechanical outcomes between sidestep cutting maneuvers using two kind of running techniques. The rearfoot running technique increases knee valgus angle, which can potentially place a higher strain on the ACL.