Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes

# Background The incidence of ACL injuries continues to rise secondary to an increase in sport participation. Evidence supports the use of force plate testing to quantify kinetics during rehabilitation after injury and recovery; however, there is limited current research regarding if jump kinetics c...

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Main Authors: Marisa Pontillo, Shawn M Hines, Brian J Sennett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North American Sports Medicine Institute 2021-02-01
Series:International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.18819
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author Marisa Pontillo
Shawn M Hines
Brian J Sennett
author_facet Marisa Pontillo
Shawn M Hines
Brian J Sennett
author_sort Marisa Pontillo
collection DOAJ
description # Background The incidence of ACL injuries continues to rise secondary to an increase in sport participation. Evidence supports the use of force plate testing to quantify kinetics during rehabilitation after injury and recovery; however, there is limited current research regarding if jump kinetics can identify athletes who are at higher risk for injury. Altered kinetics could potentially lead to abnormal force dissipation and resultant injury. # Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to identify whether the force-time variables from vertical jumps could predict ACL injuries in collegiate athletes. # Study Design Retrospective cohort. # Methods Vertical jump testing is performed by all healthy varsity collegiate athletes at several intervals throughout the athletic year at a Division I institution using a commercially available force plate system with dedicated software. Athletes who sustained an ACL injury between 1/1/15 and 6/1/19 were identified (n=16) and compared to healthy athletes who participated in the same sports (n = 262). ACL injuries were considered for this study if they occurred no more than 10 weeks after a jump test. The outcome variables were load, explode, and drive, operationally defined as the average eccentric rate of force development, average relative concentric force, and concentric relative impulse, respectively, which the system normalized to T scores. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess group differences for load, explode, drive, and the ratio between the variables. Logistic regression was used to determine if the battery of variables could predict whether or not an athlete would sustain an ACL injury. The p-value was set to 0.10 for the Mann-Whitney U tests, and 0.05 for the logistic regression. # Results Significant differences between the ACL and healthy groups were seen for explode (*p*=0.08), drive (*p*=0.06), load:explode ratio (*p*=0.06), and explode:drive ratio (*p*=0.03). Explode and drive, when entered into the regression equation, showed the ability to predict injury, $\chi^{2}$= 6.8, df = 2, *p*=0.03. # Conclusions The vertical jump force plate variables were able to identify athletes who sustained an ACL injury within 66 days of testing. Athletes who sustained an ACL injury demonstrated altered kinetics and less ability to transmit forces during the vertical jump. # Level of Evidence 3\.
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spelling doaj-art-cff501a711394fa3b8cb13e62bb952622025-02-11T20:29:39ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962021-02-01161Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate AthletesMarisa PontilloShawn M HinesBrian J Sennett# Background The incidence of ACL injuries continues to rise secondary to an increase in sport participation. Evidence supports the use of force plate testing to quantify kinetics during rehabilitation after injury and recovery; however, there is limited current research regarding if jump kinetics can identify athletes who are at higher risk for injury. Altered kinetics could potentially lead to abnormal force dissipation and resultant injury. # Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to identify whether the force-time variables from vertical jumps could predict ACL injuries in collegiate athletes. # Study Design Retrospective cohort. # Methods Vertical jump testing is performed by all healthy varsity collegiate athletes at several intervals throughout the athletic year at a Division I institution using a commercially available force plate system with dedicated software. Athletes who sustained an ACL injury between 1/1/15 and 6/1/19 were identified (n=16) and compared to healthy athletes who participated in the same sports (n = 262). ACL injuries were considered for this study if they occurred no more than 10 weeks after a jump test. The outcome variables were load, explode, and drive, operationally defined as the average eccentric rate of force development, average relative concentric force, and concentric relative impulse, respectively, which the system normalized to T scores. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess group differences for load, explode, drive, and the ratio between the variables. Logistic regression was used to determine if the battery of variables could predict whether or not an athlete would sustain an ACL injury. The p-value was set to 0.10 for the Mann-Whitney U tests, and 0.05 for the logistic regression. # Results Significant differences between the ACL and healthy groups were seen for explode (*p*=0.08), drive (*p*=0.06), load:explode ratio (*p*=0.06), and explode:drive ratio (*p*=0.03). Explode and drive, when entered into the regression equation, showed the ability to predict injury, $\chi^{2}$= 6.8, df = 2, *p*=0.03. # Conclusions The vertical jump force plate variables were able to identify athletes who sustained an ACL injury within 66 days of testing. Athletes who sustained an ACL injury demonstrated altered kinetics and less ability to transmit forces during the vertical jump. # Level of Evidence 3\.https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.18819
spellingShingle Marisa Pontillo
Shawn M Hines
Brian J Sennett
Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
title Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes
title_full Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes
title_fullStr Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes
title_full_unstemmed Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes
title_short Prediction of ACL Injuries from Vertical Jump Kinetics in Division 1 Collegiate Athletes
title_sort prediction of acl injuries from vertical jump kinetics in division 1 collegiate athletes
url https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.18819
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AT shawnmhines predictionofaclinjuriesfromverticaljumpkineticsindivision1collegiateathletes
AT brianjsennett predictionofaclinjuriesfromverticaljumpkineticsindivision1collegiateathletes