title: Sustained Improvements in Dynamic Balance and Landing Mechanics After a 6-Week Neuromuscular Training Program in College Women's Basketball Players.
abstract: Epidemiological data demonstrate the need for lower-extremity injury-prevention training. Neuromuscular-control (NMC) programs are immediately effective at minimizing lower-extremity injury risk and improving sport-related performance measures. Research investigating lasting effects after an injury-prevention program is limited.
  
  
  
  To determine whether dynamic balance, landing mechanics, and hamstring and quadriceps strength could be improved after a 6-wk NMC intervention and maintained for a season.
  
  
  
  Prospective case series.
  
  
  
  Controlled laboratory.
  
  
  
  11 Division I women's basketball players (age 19.40 ± 1.35 y, height 178.05 ± 7.52 cm, mass 72.86 ± 10.70 kg).
  
  
  
  Subjects underwent testing 3 times, completing the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), and isometric strength testing for the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles. Pretest and posttest 1 occurred immediately before and after the intervention, respectively, and posttest 2 at the end of the competitive season, 9 mo after posttest 1. Subjects participated in eighteen 30-min plyometric and NMC-training sessions over a 6-wk period.
  
  
  
  The normalized SEBT composite score, normalized peak isometric hamstrings:quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, and the LESS total score.
  
  
  
  The mean composite reach significantly improved over time (F2,10 = 6.96, P = .005) where both posttest scores were significantly higher than pretest (70.41% ± 4.08%) (posttest 1 73.48% ± 4.19%, t10 = -3.11, P = .011) and posttest 2 (74.2% ± 4.77%, t10 = -3.78, P = .004). LESS scores significantly improved over time (F2,10 = 6.29, P = .009). The pretest LESS score (7.30 ± 3.40) was higher than posttest 1 (4.9 ± 1.20, t10 = 2.71, P = .024) and posttest 2 (5.44 ± 1.83, t10 = 2.58, P = .030). There were no statistically significant differences (P > .05) over time for the H:Q ratio when averaging both legs (F2,10 = 0.83, P = .45).
  
  
  
  A 6-wk NMC program improved landing mechanics and dynamic balance over a 9-mo period in women's basketball players. NMC adaptations can be retained without an in-season maintenance program.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.
authors.forename: Kate R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Pfile
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gribble
authors.forename: Gretchen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Buskirk
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Meserth
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pietrosimone
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult