title: Neuromuscular Coordination Deficit Persists 12 Months after ACL Reconstruction But Can Be Modulated by 6 Weeks of Kettlebell Training: A Case Study in Women's Elite Soccer.
abstract: The aim of the present single-case study was to investigate the effect of 6 weeks' kettlebell training on the neuromuscular risk profile for ACL injury in a high-risk athlete returning to sport after ACL reconstruction. A female elite soccer player (age 21 years) with no previous history of ACL injury went through neuromuscular screening as measured by EMG preactivity of vastus lateralis and semitendinosus during a standardized sidecutting maneuver. Subsequently, the player experienced a noncontact ACL injury. The player was screened again following postreconstruction rehabilitation, then underwent 6-week kettlebell training, and was subsequently screened again at 6-week follow-up. Prior to and after postreconstruction rehabilitation the player demonstrated a neuromuscular profile during sidecutting known to increase the risk for noncontact ACL injury, that is, reduced EMG preactivity for semitendinosus and elevated EMG preactivity for vastus lateralis. Subsequently, the 6-week kettlebell training increased semitendinosus muscle preactivity during sidecutting by 38 percentage points to a level equivalent to a neuromuscular low-risk profile. An ACL rehabilitated female athlete with a high-risk neuromuscular profile changed to low-risk in response to 6 weeks of kettlebell training. Thus, short-term kettlebell exercise with documented high levels of medial hamstring activation was found to transfer into high medial hamstring preactivation during a sidecutting maneuver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health and Technology, Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen N, Denmark; Human Movement Analysis Laboratory, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette K
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5301-3241
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Zebis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health and Technology, Metropolitan University College, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christoffer H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Human Movement Analysis Laboratory, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bencke
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ørntoft
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Sports Medicine, Danish Elite Sports Organization Team Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Linnebjerg
authors.affiliation: Sports Orthopedic Research Center-Copenhagen, Arthroscopic Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hölmich
authors.affiliation: Sports Orthopedic Research Center-Copenhagen, Arthroscopic Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9102-4515
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thorborg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Per
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9773-7361
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aagaard
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark; Physical Activity and Human Performance, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars L
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2777-8085
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Andersen