EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF A PERCEPTUAL-COGNITIVE TASK ON LANDING BIOMECHANICS OF THE LOWER LIMB

Abstract

The majority of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur without player contact following a movement such as a landing or change of direction. Much attention has been focused on muscle strengthening to delay the biomechanical effects of muscle fatigue reduce the risk of injury. However, recent studies have indicated there may be a link between cognitive factors and non-contact ACL injuries. In this study, kinematic data was acquired from seven athletes who performed jumping and landing trials. Half of the trials performed while tracking multiple virtual objects in a 3D volume, meant to simulate a game-situation cognitive load. For all participants, significant differences were observed for several angles. Increased knee abduction, which is known to increase strain on the ACL, was observed in 4 of 7 participants.