Kinesiology
Danielle Wagner
Kinesiology Biomechanics Project Outline
Analyzing Motion: A Knee during Jumping/Cutting of a Female Soccer Player
Intro:
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common, severe, and devastating knee injuries in men and women in both contact and non-contact sports. Within the past 20-303 years the prevalence of ACL tears has been noted more significantly in the female athlete. Females were two times as likely to have ACL injuries as a result of player contact and three times more likely to obtain such an injury through noncontact mechanisms as their male counterparts1. The latest research2 indicates that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to experience anterior cruciate ligament rupture than male athletes. Mechanics of a woman’s body are leading to more ACL injuries. Numerous theories have been suggested to explain this problem. Many of these theories4,5 include both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors would be considered uncontrollable, and would include greater physiological rotatory laxity, smaller size of ACL associated with smaller intercondylar notch, valgus malalignment, hyperextension, diminished proproception, leg dominance, quadriceps dominance, hormonal influence, and postural alignment. Extrinsic factors would be considered potentially controllable. These include decreased strength and conditioning, inappropriate shoes, motivation, deceleration forces during injury, neuromuscular control, and body movement8. These extrinsic factors are the focus of prevention of ACL tears in the female athlete. Due to these factors, many questions have arisen regarding the increasing rate of ACL tears in the female athlete.
ACL background: The ACL is made of two bundles, the anteromedial and posterolateral. Both of these bundles originate from the posterior medial femoral condyle and insert into the anterior medial aspect of the tibial plateau6. In addition to the ligament itself, other soft
Kinesiology Biomechanics Project Outline
Analyzing Motion: A Knee during Jumping/Cutting of a Female Soccer Player
Intro:
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common, severe, and devastating knee injuries in men and women in both contact and non-contact sports. Within the past 20-303 years the prevalence of ACL tears has been noted more significantly in the female athlete. Females were two times as likely to have ACL injuries as a result of player contact and three times more likely to obtain such an injury through noncontact mechanisms as their male counterparts1. The latest research2 indicates that female athletes are two to eight times more likely to experience anterior cruciate ligament rupture than male athletes. Mechanics of a woman’s body are leading to more ACL injuries. Numerous theories have been suggested to explain this problem. Many of these theories4,5 include both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors would be considered uncontrollable, and would include greater physiological rotatory laxity, smaller size of ACL associated with smaller intercondylar notch, valgus malalignment, hyperextension, diminished proproception, leg dominance, quadriceps dominance, hormonal influence, and postural alignment. Extrinsic factors would be considered potentially controllable. These include decreased strength and conditioning, inappropriate shoes, motivation, deceleration forces during injury, neuromuscular control, and body movement8. These extrinsic factors are the focus of prevention of ACL tears in the female athlete. Due to these factors, many questions have arisen regarding the increasing rate of ACL tears in the female athlete.
ACL background: The ACL is made of two bundles, the anteromedial and posterolateral. Both of these bundles originate from the posterior medial femoral condyle and insert into the anterior medial aspect of the tibial plateau6. In addition to the ligament itself, other soft