Kinetic and kinematic analysis of the lower extremities during a vertical drop-jump with and without an overhead target: Implications for ACL injury screening

Abstract

Former studies have indicated that knee valgus angles and -moments in a Vertical Drop-Jump (VDJ) can predict future Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries. The use of an overhead target has proved to improve effort on subjects tested. This may in turn result in a test, which challenges the dynamic knee control to a greater extent. The aims of the study were to investigate if: 1) Elite female handball and football and handball athletes improve jump-height in overhead-target Vertical Drop Jumps compared to non-target Vertical Drop Jumps. 2) An overhead-target induces changes in lower extremity frontal plane and sagittal plane biomechanics, in elite female handball and football athletes?