title: Application of a clinic-based algorithm as a tool to identify female athletes at risk for anterior cruciate ligament injury: a prospective cohort study with a nested, matched case-control analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When landing from a jump, the production of increased intersegmental knee abduction moments and coupled valgus motions has been associated with an increased risk of suffering a noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in one study. This research has led to the development of a clinic-based algorithm that utilizes measures of knee valgus motion, knee flexion range of motion, body mass, tibial length, and quadriceps-to-hamstring strength ratio data to predict the probability of a high knee abduction moment (pKAM) when landing from a jump in female athletes. The ability of this algorithm to identify athletes at increased risk of suffering ACL injury has not been assessed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The pKAM is associated with ACL injury in female athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on secondary analysis of data obtained from a previous investigation that focused on the use of the drop vertical jump (DVJ) test to assess the risk of ACL injury in female athletes. The DVJ screenings were performed on 1855 female high school and college athletes over 3 years. Knee valgus motion, knee flexion range of motion, and tibial length were measured from videos of the DVJ obtained during preseason screenings. Mass was measured using a physician's scale, and quadriceps-to-hamstring strength ratio was included using a surrogate value. These data were entered into the clinic-based algorithm that determined the pKAM. The association of pKAM with ACL injury was assessed using conditional logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 20 athletes sustained ACL injury and were matched with 45 uninjured control athletes who were recruited from the same teams. There was no relationship between the risk of suffering ACL injury and pKAM, as determined by the clinic-based algorithm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pKAM was not associated with noncontact ACL injury in our group of injured athletes and matched controls.
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont College of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, McClure Musculoskeletal Research Center, 95 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goetschius
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Pamela M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vacek
authors.forename: Leigh Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Holterman
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Tourville
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slauterbeck
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Beynnon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult