The anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries rates in female handball are high, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, the primary purpose of this randomized control trial is to explore the effects of an 8-week ACL injury prevention program on muscle activation of the medial hamstring muscles during sidecutting in female handball players. Secondary aims are to evaluate if training effects are age-related (pre-adolescent: 11-13 year old vs. adults: ≥18 years old). The age-related comparisons Include: 1. Medial hamstring muscles activation during sidecutting; 2. Well-known biomechanical ACL injury-risk factors during high risk movements, such as cutting and landing tasks; 3. Cortical and muscular activity and functional connectivity patterns during controlled knee movements; 4. Visuomotor skill learning during a simple task involving the hamstring muscles.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
80
Supervised ACL injury prevention training twice a week (2 x 15 minutes) over an 8-week period.
Supervised shoulder injury prevention training twice a week (2 x 15 minutes) over an 8-week period.
Department of Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Psychomotor Therapy, Faculty of Health, University College Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark
Human Movement Analysis Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital
Hvidovre, Denmark
Neuromuscular adaptations during sidecutting
Semitendinosus muscle pre-activity (sEMG) duirng handball specific sidecutting. Outcome measure is expressed in %MVC.during sidecutting.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Changes in isometric strength
Peak isometric hamstring and hip external rotation strength, respectively. Outcome measure is expressed in force (Newtons).
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Changes in 3D hip and knee joint angles
Hip and knee joint kinematic for sidecutting and single-leg landings. This include joint kinetics at initial contact and local maximum and minimums. Outcome is expressed in three-dimensional joint angles (degrees)
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Changes in 3D hip and knee joint moments
Hip and knee joint kinetics for sidecutting and single-leg landings. Outcome is expressed in three-dimensional joint moments (M)
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Changes in hamstring and quadriceps pre-activation
Hamstring (biceps femoris) and quadriceps (vastus lateralis and medialis) pre-activation (sEMG) during sidecutting and single-leg landings. Outcome measure is expressed in %MVC.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Visuomotor Skill Learning
Age-related differences in motor performance, skill acquisition and retention during and following visuomotor skill practice. Specific outcomes measure will be time on target (seconds per target).
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Baseline +1 Day, Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Changes in shoulder sensorimoter stability
Shoulder sensorimoter stability measured as CoP length (mm) from force platform data.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
Changes in Shoulder Rotator Cuff Strength
Peak isometric internal and external rotator cuff strength. Outcome measure is expressed in force (Newtons).
Time frame: Change from Baseline to Training Completion at 8 weeks. And retention 8-weeks after the prevention program was completed.
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