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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Lower extremity injuries are common in athletes. Valid tests to assess for risk of injury that are easily performed during a pre-participation sports physical examination are lacking. Two-dimensional (2D) analysis of a drop-jump can identify athletes at risk, but it is too expensive and cumbersome to employ in this setting.
OBJECTIVE: To identify if those who perform a "positive"(abnormal postures) Single Leg Squat (SLS) test also exhibit greater "dynamic valgus" on the 2D drop-jump test. Our secondary purpose was to assess whether group differences in gender, age, or Body Mass Index (BMI) are evident between those who exhibit a Positive SLS test versus a Negative SLS test. Thirdly, we wished to determine any gender differences with the 2D drop-jump test.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Private practice, pre-participation sports physicals PARTICIPANTS: 142 middle school and high school athletes METHODS: Participants performed a SLS test and a drop-jump test during their pre-participation sports physical. Individuals were partitioned into groups based on the outcome of their SLS test (Positive SLS Group versus Negative SLS Group). Independent sample t-tests were used to evaluate SLS group differences in the drop-jump test, age, and BMI and a Chi-Square test was used to evaluate SLS group differences in gender (P≤.05). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SLS test, Drop-Jump test RESULTS: Seventy-three of the 142 athletes (51%) had a Positive SLS test while sixty-nine athletes (49%) had a Negative SLS test. Individuals in the Positive SLS Group had a significantly lower knee/hip ratio), indicative of greater dynamic knee valgus, than did those in the Negative SLS group (P=.02). Individual characteristics between SLS groups including gender, age, and BMI were similar.
CONCLUSIONS: The SLS test is a reasonable tool to use in pre-participation sports physicals to assess for dynamic knee valgus and potential risk of lower extremity injury.
Language: en |