(04) BIOMECHANICAL DEFICITS DURING THE TUCK JUMP ASSESSMENT REMAIN IN ADOLESCENT FEMALE ATHLETES 9 MONTHS POST ACLR SURGERY

Purpose: Addressing biomechanical deficits in adolescent female athletes post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is crucial for safe return-to-play.¹ The tuck jump assessment (TJA) is a clinical assessment used to identify risk associated with ACL injury,² yet its fundamental analyses currently lack the ability to explore landing forces.³ The aim of this study was to compare differences in interlimb kinetics and asymmetries during a repeated tuck jump task in adolescent female patients with and without ACLR.

Methods: TJA was completed by 31 adolescent ACLR patients, and 21 healthy controls on dual force plates. Discrete time-point analysis and statistical parametric mapping were used to identify differences between limbs. Cohen’s d effect sizes were used to determine the magnitude of differences, with effect sizes classified as: trivial  (d < 0.20), small (d = 0.20–0.49), moderate (d = 0.50–0.79), or large (d ≥ 0.80).⁴

Results: The ACLR group performed fewer jumping cycles with distinct kinetic differences including longer ground contact time (d = 1.95), increased flight time (d = 2.57), jump height (d = 2.56), and peak centre of mass displacement (d = 2.33). Large increase in interlimb kinetic asymmetries were evident in the ACLR group for relative leg stiffness, average loading rate, peak braking force, and time of braking and propulsive peaks (Table 1). Moderate differences in vertical ground reaction force between limbs in the ACLR group were evident and favoured the uninvolved limb for a majority (9-94%) of the stance phase of TJA. CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSION: Interlimb kinetic asymmetries during the TJA reveal distinct jump-landing strategies between ACLR athletes and healthy controls, with ACLR athletes demonstrating compromised stretch shortening cycle function, and greater reliance on the uninvolved limb to absorb and generate force for TJA performance. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: These data highlight the need for targeted rehabilitation protocols that foster kinetic symmetry in jump-landing performance and underscore the importance of longitudinal and progressive monitoring for optimized return-to-play outcomes in patients following ACLR.

1.        Ardern CL, Webster KE, Taylor NF, Feller JA. Return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the state of play. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(7):596-606. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2010.076364

2.        Myer GD, Ford KR, Hewett TE. Tuck Jump Assessment for Reducing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk. Hubbard TJ, ed. Athletic Therapy Today. 2008;13(5):39-44. doi:10.1123/att.13.5.39

3.        Kember LS, Lloyd RS, Myer GD, Moore IS. Kinetics and Stabilization of the Tuck Jump Assessment. J Sport Rehabil. 2022;31(4):524-528. doi:10.1123/jsr.2021-0054

4.        Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale; 1988.

Acknowledgements: None