Knee joint loading during a 180-degree cutting maneuver versus a 45-degree cut and a jump-landing

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has posed great obstacles for athletes and their athletic teams. Individuals have been engaged in rapid change of direction movements such as cutting maneuvers and jump-landings when they sustained an ACL injury. Jump-landings and 45-degree cutting maneuvers have been studied to identify risk factors for injury, however, the risk for injury during the 180-degree cutting maneuver has yet to be fully investigated. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the mechanical risk for injury during the 180- degree cutting maneuver compared to 45-degree cut, and a jump-landing task. Methods: 12 participants performed 45-degree cuts, 180-degree cuts, and a drop-jump landing maneuver in a randomized order. Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyography data was collected during the pre initial contact, initial contact, loading, and propulsive phases of the movements. Sagittal and frontal peak angles and moments were analyzed alongside the peak vertical ground reaction forces. Hamstrings to quadriceps muscle activation ratios were computed and compared for each task. Results: During initial contact of the movements, the participants demonstrated significantly decreased knee flexion angles (p < .001) and hip flexion angles (p < .001) during the 180-degree cut when compared to the other two tasks . During the propulsive phase, the 180- degree cut resulted in decreased peak knee flexion angles (p < .001) and increased knee adduction moments when compared to only the jump-landing task (p < .001). During the pre- contact phase, the jump-landing task had decreased H:Q muscle activation ratios (p < .002). Conclusion: During the initial contact, the 180-degree cutting maneuver placed an individual at the greatest biomechanical risk for ACL injury when compared to the two other tasks. During the propulsive and loading phases, a similar finding was observed, however only between the 180- degree cut and the jump-landing task.