The Utility of a High-intensity Exercise Protocol to Prospectively Assess ACL Injury Risk.
This study investigated the utility of a 5-min high-intensity exercise protocol (SAFT(5)) to include in prospective cohort studies investigating ACL injury risk. 15 active females were tested on 2 occasions during which their non-dominant leg was analysed before SAFT(5) (PRE), immediately after (POST0), 15 min after (POST15), and 30 min after (POST30). On the first occasion, testing included 5 maximum isokinetic contractions for eccentric and concentric hamstring and concentric quadriceps and on the second occasion, 3 trials of 2 landing tasks (i. e., single-leg hop and drop vertical jump) were conducted. Results showed a reduced eccentric hamstring peak torque at POST0, POST15 and POST30 (p<0.05) and a reduced functional HQ ratio (Hecc/Qcon) at POST15 and POST30 (p<0.05). Additionally, a more extended knee angle at POST30 (p<0.05) and increased knee internal rotation angle at POST0 and POST15 (p<0.05) were found in a single-leg hop. SAFT(5) altered landing strategies associated with increased ACL injury risk and similar to observations from match simulations. Our findings therefore support the utility of a high-intensity exercise protocol such as SAFT(5) to strengthen injury screening tests and to include in prospective cohort studies where time constraints apply.
Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
F M
FM
Bossuyt
Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain.
F
F
García-Pinillos
Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
R M F
RM
Raja Azidin
Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
J
J
Vanrenterghem
Sport Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
M A
MA
Robinson
D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012399:Rotation; D055815:Young Adult