Jumping and Injuries

Studies stated that hip abductor fatigue is related to different lower limb injuries. Nevertheless, the immediate effect of hip abduction fatigue on trunk and lower limb kinematics and kinetics as well as on muscle activities remains unclear.

The present study will examine the influence of hip abductor fatigue of healthy volunteers on kinematics, kinetics and muscle activities of the lower extremity and the trunk at the moment of the landing after a single leg forward jump and sidestep cutting maneuver. These tests have been chosen because injuries mostly happen during such challenging circumstances. The investigators are mainly interested in changes that occur in magnitude and timing of maximum knee valgus and lateral trunk lean at landing after fatiguing the hip abductor muscles as well as in its related muscle activity.  The knee valgus and trunk lean are of particular interest due to its relation to acute lower extremity injuries

Contrary to our hypothesis, our results showed an increased knee varus angle and a delayed contra lateral trunk lean after hip abductor fatigue. The identified neuromuscular alterations show that hip abductor fatigue alters lower limb kinematics at jump landing and should further be investigated to gather more insight in knee injury endangering mechanisms.