HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rozzi, S. L. Articles by Fu, F. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rozzi, S. L. Articles by Fu, F. H. Related Collections Injury Kinematics and kinetics Female Athletes Basketball Soccer

Knee Joint Laxity and Neuromuscular Characteristics of Male and Female Soccer and Basketball Players

Susan L. Rozzi, PhD, ATC^,, Scott M. Lephart, PhD, ATC, William S. Gear, MS, ATC and Freddie H. Fu, MD^||

Department of Physical Education and Health, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
^|| Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Presented at the interim meeting of the AOSSM, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 1998.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Susan L. Rozzi, PhD, ATC, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424-0001

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are occurring at a higher rate in female athletes compared with their male counterparts. Research in the area of anterior cruciate ligament injury has increasingly focused on the role of joint proprioception and muscle activity in promoting knee joint stability. We measured knee joint laxity, joint kinesthesia, lower extremity balance, the amount of time required to generate peak torque of the knee flexor and extensor musculature, and electromyographically assessed muscle activity in 34 healthy, collegiate-level athletes (average age, 19.6 ± 1.5 years) who played soccer or basketball or both. Independent t-tests were used to determine significant sex differences. Results revealed that women inherently possess significantly greater knee joint laxity values, demonstrate a significantly longer time to detect the knee joint motion moving into extension, possess significantly superior single-legged balance ability, and produce significantly greater electromyographic peak amplitude and area of the lateral hamstring muscle subsequent to landing a jump. The excessive joint laxity of women appears to contribute to diminished joint proprioception, rendering the knee less sensitive to potentially damaging forces and possibly at risk for injury. Unable to rely on ligamentous structures, healthy female athletes appear to have adopted compensatory mechanisms of increased hamstring activity to achieve functional joint stabilization.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. J. Schmitz, T. K. Ficklin, Y. Shimokochi, A.-D. Nguyen, B. D. Beynnon, D. H. Perrin, and S. J. Shultz Varus/Valgus and Internal/External Torsional Knee Joint Stiffness Differs Between Sexes Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 2008; 36(7): 1380 - 1388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Myer, K. R. Ford, M. V. Paterno, T. G. Nick, and T. E. Hewett The Effects of Generalized Joint Laxity on Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Young Female Athletes Am. J. Sports Med., June 1, 2008; 36(6): 1073 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. L. Jenkins, S. G. Raedeke, and D.S. B. Williams III The Relationship Between the Use of Foot Orthoses and Knee Ligament Injury in Female Collegiate Basketball Players J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, May 1, 2008; 98(3): 207 - 211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-J. Kim, T.-E. Kim, D.-H. Lee, and K.-S. Oh Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients Who Have Excessive Joint Laxity J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., April 1, 2008; 90(4): 735 - 741. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Kernozek, M. R. Torry, and M. Iwasaki Gender Differences in Lower Extremity Landing Mechanics Caused by Neuromuscular Fatigue Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2008; 36(3): 554 - 565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. S Ellenbecker, E P. Roetert, T. Sueyoshi, and S. Riewald A descriptive profile of age-specific knee extension flexion strength in elite junior tennis players Br. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2007; 41(11): 728 - 732. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Landry, K. A. McKean, C. L. Hubley-Kozey, W. D. Stanish, and K. J. Deluzio Neuromuscular and Lower Limb Biomechanical Differences Exist Between Male and Female Elite Adolescent Soccer Players During an Unanticipated Run and Crosscut Maneuver Am. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2007; 35(11): 1901 - 1911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Landry, K. A. McKean, C. L. Hubley-Kozey, W. D. Stanish, and K. J. Deluzio Neuromuscular and Lower Limb Biomechanical Differences Exist Between Male and Female Elite Adolescent Soccer Players During an Unanticipated Side-cut Maneuver Am. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2007; 35(11): 1888 - 1900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. H. Trojian and S. Collins The Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Rate Varies by Race in Professional Women's Basketball Am. J. Sports Med., June 1, 2006; 34(6): 895 - 898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W.-H. Hsu, J. A. Fisk, Y. Yamamoto, R. E. Debski, and S. L-Y. Woo Differences in Torsional Joint Stiffness of the Knee Between Genders: A Human Cadaveric Study Am. J. Sports Med., May 1, 2006; 34(5): 765 - 770. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Ahmad, A. M. Clark, N. Heilmann, J. S. Schoeb, T. R. Gardner, and W. N. Levine Effect of Gender and Maturity on Quadriceps-to-Hamstring Strength Ratio and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Laxity Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2006; 34(3): 370 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D. Myer, K. R. Ford, S. G. McLean, and T. E. Hewett The Effects of Plyometric Versus Dynamic Stabilization and Balance Training on Lower Extremity Biomechanics Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2006; 34(3): 445 - 455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Hewett, G. D. Myer, and K. R. Ford Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes: Part 1, Mechanisms and Risk Factors Am. J. Sports Med., February 1, 2006; 34(2): 299 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. C. Sell, C. M. Ferris, J. P. Abt, Y.-S. Tsai, J. B. Myers, F. H. Fu, and S. M. Lephart The Effect of Direction and Reaction on the Neuromuscular and Biomechanical Characteristics of the Knee During Tasks That Simulate the Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Mechanism Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 2006; 34(1): 43 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S M Lephart, J P Abt, C M Ferris, T C Sell, T Nagai, J B Myers, and J J Irrgang Neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristic changes in high school athletes: a plyometric versus basic resistance program Br. J. Sports Med., December 1, 2005; 39(12): 932 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Beynnon, I. M. Bernstein, A. Belisle, B. Brattbakk, P. Devanny, R. Risinger, and D. Durant The Effect of Estradiol and Progesterone on Knee and Ankle Joint Laxity Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2005; 33(9): 1298 - 1304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Yu, S. B. McClure, J. A. Onate, K. M. Guskiewicz, D. T. Kirkendall, and W. E. Garrett Age and Gender Effects on Lower Extremity Kinematics of Youth Soccer Players in a Stop-Jump Task Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2005; 33(9): 1356 - 1364. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. D Myer, H. I Brunner, P. G Melson, M. V Paterno, K. R Ford, and T. E Hewett Specialized Neuromuscular Training to Improve Neuromuscular Function and Biomechanics in a Patient With Quiescent Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Physical Therapy, August 1, 2005; 85(8): 791 - 802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T E Hewett, B T Zazulak, G D Myer, and K R Ford A review of electromyographic activation levels, timing differences, and increased anterior cruciate ligament injury incidence in female athletes Br. J. Sports Med., June 1, 2005; 39(6): 347 - 350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Ramesh, O. Von Arx, T. Azzopardi, and P. J. Schranz The risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture with generalised joint laxity J Bone Joint Surg Br, June 1, 2005; 87-B(6): 800 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Sbriccoli, M. Solomonow, B.-H. Zhou, Y. Lu, and R. Sellards Neuromuscular Response to Cyclic Loading of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Am. J. Sports Med., April 1, 2005; 33(4): 543 - 551. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. Flynn, C. L. Pedersen, T. B. Birmingham, A. Kirkley, D. Jackowski, and P. J. Fowler The Familial Predisposition Toward Tearing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: A Case Control Study Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 2005; 33(1): 23 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R G DeMont and S M Lephart Effect of sex on preactivation of the gastrocnemius and hamstring muscles Br. J. Sports Med., April 1, 2004; 38(2): 120 - 124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Dragoo, R. S. Lee, P. Benhaim, G. A. M. Finerman, and S. L. Hame Relaxin Receptors in the Human Female Anterior Cruciate Ligament Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 2003; 31(4): 577 - 584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Wojtys, L. J. Huston, H. J. Schock, J. P. Boylan, and J. A. Ashton-Miller Gender Differences in Muscular Protection of the Knee in Torsion in Size-Matched Athletes J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., May 1, 2003; 85(5): 782 - 789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Strickland, T. W. Belknap, S. A. Turner, T. M. Wright, and J. A. Hannafin Lack of Hormonal Influences on Mechanical Properties of Sheep Knee Ligaments Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2003; 31(2): 210 - 215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Fagenbaum and W. G. Darling Jump Landing Strategies in Male and Female College Athletes and the Implications of Such Strategies for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2003; 31(2): 233 - 240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. B. Freedman, M. J. D'Amato, D. D. Nedeff, A. Kaz, and B. R. Bach Jr. Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Metaanalysis Comparing Patellar Tendon and Hamstring Tendon Autografts Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 2003; 31(1): 2 - 11. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. D. Sanger Pathophysiology of Pediatric Movement Disorders J Child Neurol, January 1, 2003; 18(1_suppl): S9 - S24. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Y. Griffin, J. Agel, M. J. Albohm, E. A. Arendt, R. W. Dick, W. E. Garrett, J. G. Garrick, T. E. Hewett, L. Huston, M. L. Ireland, et al. Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., May 1, 2000; 8(3): 141 - 150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]