title: Lower limb kinematics and dynamic postural stability in anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed female athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deficits in lower limb kinematics and postural stability are predisposing factors to the development of knee ligamentous injury. The extent to which these deficits are present after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is still largely unknown. The primary hypothesis of the present study was that female athletes who have undergone ACL reconstruction and who have returned to sport participation would exhibit deficits in dynamic postural stability as well as deficiencies in hip- and knee-joint kinematics when compared with an age-, activity-, and sex-matched uninjured control group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate dynamic postural stability as quantified by the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and simultaneous hip- and knee-joint kinematic profiles in female athletes who have undergone ACL reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University motion-analysis laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen female athletes who had previously undergone ACL reconstruction (ACL-R) and 17 age- and sex-matched uninjured controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each participant performed 3 trials of the anterior, posterior-medial, and posterior-lateral directional components of the SEBT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reach distances for each directional component were quantified and expressed as a percentage of leg length. Simultaneous hip- and knee-joint kinematic profiles were recorded using a motion-analysis system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACL-R group had decreased reach distances on the posterior-medial (P < .01) and posterior-lateral (P < .01) directional components of the SEBT. During performance of the directional components of the SEBT, ACL-R participants demonstrated altered hip-joint frontal-, sagittal-, and transverse-plane kinematic profiles (P < .05), as well as altered knee-joint sagittal-plane kinematic profiles (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deficits in dynamic postural stability and concomitant altered hip- and knee-joint kinematics are present after ACL reconstruction and return to competitive activity. The extent to which these deficits influence potential future injury is worthy of investigation.
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy andPopulation Science, Health Sciences Centre, Belfield, Dublin 04, Ireland. eamonn.delahunt@ucd.ie
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delahunt
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chawke
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prendiville
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sweeny
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D056352:Athletes; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult