No association between knee biomechanics during 90-degree cutting maneuver and future anterior cruciate ligament injury in female floorball players

Abstract

Background: Young female floorball players are among the athletes at the highest risk of rupturing their anterior cruciate ligament in games and practices. Most anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female floorball occur in noncontact cutting situations. The primary aim of this study was to investigate association between knee biomechanics during a 90-degree cutting task and the risk for future non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury in female floorball players. Methods: Sixty-five female floorball players (median age 19.5 years; range 15–31) completed preseason testing and 2.5-year follow-up. The testing included marker-based three-dimensional motion analysis of a floorball-specific 90-degree cutting task. Players' movements were recorded by eight 300 Hz cameras, and ground reaction forces were captured by 1500 Hz force plates. Seven biomechanical variables were measured: knee valgus angle at initial contact, peak knee valgus angle, knee flexion angle at initial contact, peak knee flexion angle, peak knee abduction moment, peak knee flexion moment, and peak knee internal rotation moment. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries were recorded throughout the follow-up. Findings: Ten ACL injuries occurred and were included in the analysis. No differences were observed in baseline biomechanical variables between players who sustained an ACL injury during follow-up and those who remained injury-free. Interpretation: Knee valgus and flexion angles, and knee abduction, flexion, and internal rotation moments during the 90-degree cutting test were not associated with the risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury in female floorball players. The 90-degree cutting test developed for this study cannot predict ACL injuries in female floorball players.