Effect of Core Muscle Functional Fatigue on Some of Kinematics Parameters Related to ACL Injury during Single-Leg Stop-Jump Task in Female Athletes

Although the internal and external risk factors of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury have extensively been studied, biomechanical and neuromuscular risk factors that put women at risk for this injury are unclear. Since muscle weakness is a contributing factor in ACL injury, the current research was conducted to study how weakness or strength of muscle, especially core muscles, can affect lower limbs performance and injury. Fatigue is also a negative contributing factor to the performance of core muscles. In this regard, the present study aimed at evaluating the effect of core muscles fatigue on some kinematic parameters associated with ACL injury during single-leg stop-jump maneuver in female athletes.

A total of 30 female athletes were selected and divided into two groups of control and experimental. We used a protocol for recorded fatigue to exhaust the core muscles and the Vicon Motion Analysis device to analyze kinematic parameters.

The flexion angle and knee valgus at the moment of initial contact of the foot with the ground and the maximum amount of flexion and knee valgus during single-leg stop-jump maneuver were measured. A significant difference was observed between flexion angle of the knee at the moment of initial contact of the foot with the ground before (6.82) and after (2.36) intervention and knee valgus before (3.10) and after (5.80) intervention in the experimental group (p

It is concluded from the results of the present study that core muscles fatigue can influence the flexion angle and knee valgus and the maximum amount of flexion and knee valgus.