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1- Department of Sport injury and corrective exercise, Faculty of physical Education and Sports Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
2- Department of Sport Management and Biomechanics, Faculty of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2- Department of Sport Management and Biomechanics, Faculty of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Abstract: (8 Views)
Background: Most anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are noncontact. Modifiable risk factors such as dynamic knee valgus (DKV) and higher ground reaction force (GRF) may increase ACL loading by altering lower-limb alignment and joint stress. The goal of this study was to compare the effects of Stop-X training and Knee Control training on primary outcomes of GRF variables and DKV, and secondary outcomes of Loading rate (LR) and Center of pressure (COP) displacement during a single-leg drop landing (SLDL) task.
Method: In this randomized controlled experiment, 45 male futsal athletes with DKV were allocated to the Stop-X group (n=15), the Knee Control group (n=15), and a control group (n=15). Kinetics were documented with a force plate at a frequency of 1000 Hz, whereas DKV was assessed through two-dimensional (2D) motion analysis. Participants had 8 weeks of monitored training. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used in this study. Effects were considered significant at P < 0.05 for ANCOVA. To reduce Type I error, the Bonferroni correction (adjusted significance level: P ≤ 0.016) was applied to pairwise post-hoc comparisons of significant interaction effects. This has been documented in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry (Code: IRCT20241230064223N1, Date: 2025-01-18).
Results: After adjustment for baseline values using ANCOVA, significant between-group effects were observed for peak vertical GRF (Fz) (F = 8.42, p < 0.01, η²p = 0.29), peak anterior – posterior GRF (Fymax) (F = 3.63, p = 0.03, η²p = 0.19), minimum medial - lateral GRF (Fxmin) (F = 5.20, p = 0.01, η²p = 0.25), and DKV (F = 33.61, p < 0.01, η²p = 0.69). Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons showed that Stop-X and Knee Control had significantly lower Fz and DKV values than the control group. No significant differences were found between the Stop-X and Knee Control groups for any outcome.
Conclusion: The results indicate that both Knee Control and Stop-X training programs improved landing biomechanics compared to the control group by decreasing GRF variables and DKV. However, no statistically significant superiority was observed between the two intervention protocols. Thus, both programs can be regarded as effective neuromuscular training approaches for improving landing biomechanics in athletes performing high-risk landing tasks.
Method: In this randomized controlled experiment, 45 male futsal athletes with DKV were allocated to the Stop-X group (n=15), the Knee Control group (n=15), and a control group (n=15). Kinetics were documented with a force plate at a frequency of 1000 Hz, whereas DKV was assessed through two-dimensional (2D) motion analysis. Participants had 8 weeks of monitored training. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used in this study. Effects were considered significant at P < 0.05 for ANCOVA. To reduce Type I error, the Bonferroni correction (adjusted significance level: P ≤ 0.016) was applied to pairwise post-hoc comparisons of significant interaction effects. This has been documented in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry (Code: IRCT20241230064223N1, Date: 2025-01-18).
Results: After adjustment for baseline values using ANCOVA, significant between-group effects were observed for peak vertical GRF (Fz) (F = 8.42, p < 0.01, η²p = 0.29), peak anterior – posterior GRF (Fymax) (F = 3.63, p = 0.03, η²p = 0.19), minimum medial - lateral GRF (Fxmin) (F = 5.20, p = 0.01, η²p = 0.25), and DKV (F = 33.61, p < 0.01, η²p = 0.69). Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons showed that Stop-X and Knee Control had significantly lower Fz and DKV values than the control group. No significant differences were found between the Stop-X and Knee Control groups for any outcome.
Conclusion: The results indicate that both Knee Control and Stop-X training programs improved landing biomechanics compared to the control group by decreasing GRF variables and DKV. However, no statistically significant superiority was observed between the two intervention protocols. Thus, both programs can be regarded as effective neuromuscular training approaches for improving landing biomechanics in athletes performing high-risk landing tasks.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Sport injury and corrective exercises
Received: 2026/05/26 | Accepted: 2026/08/25
Received: 2026/05/26 | Accepted: 2026/08/25
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