Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(02): 125-133
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555930
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Utility of a High-intensity Exercise Protocol to Prospectively Assess ACL Injury Risk

F. M. Bossuyt
1   Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
F. García-Pinillos
2   Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain
,
R. M. F. Raja Azidin
1   Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
J. Vanrenterghem
3   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
M. A. Robinson
4   Sport Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Publikationsverlauf



accepted after revision 25. Juni 2015

Publikationsdatum:
28. Oktober 2015 (online)

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Abstract

This study investigated the utility of a 5-min high-intensity exercise protocol (SAFT5) to include in prospective cohort studies investigating ACL injury risk. 15 active females were tested on 2 occasions during which their non-dominant leg was analysed before SAFT5 (PRE), immediately after (POST0), 15 min after (POST15), and 30 min after (POST30). On the first occasion, testing included 5 maximum isokinetic contractions for eccentric and concentric hamstring and concentric quadriceps and on the second occasion, 3 trials of 2 landing tasks (i. e., single-leg hop and drop vertical jump) were conducted. Results showed a reduced eccentric hamstring peak torque at POST0, POST15 and POST30 (p<0.05) and a reduced functional HQ ratio (Hecc/Qcon) at POST15 and POST30 (p<0.05). Additionally, a more extended knee angle at POST30 (p<0.05) and increased knee internal rotation angle at POST0 and POST15 (p<0.05) were found in a single-leg hop. SAFT5 altered landing strategies associated with increased ACL injury risk and similar to observations from match simulations. Our findings therefore support the utility of a high-intensity exercise protocol such as SAFT5 to strengthen injury screening tests and to include in prospective cohort studies where time constraints apply.