Jump-landing biomechanics and knee-laxity change across the menstrual cycle in women with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

CONTEXT

Of the individuals able to return to sport participation after an anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injury, up to 25% will experience a second ACL injury. This population may be more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, which may explain this high rate of second injury.

OBJECTIVE

To examine changes in 3-dimensional hip and knee kinematics and kinetics during a jump landing and to examine knee laxity across the menstrual cycle in women with histories of unilateral noncontact ACL injury.

DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

SETTING

Laboratory.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

A total of 20 women (age = 19.6 ± 1.3 years, height = 168.6 ± 5.3 cm, mass = 66.2 ± 9.1 kg) with unilateral, noncontact ACL injuries.

INTERVENTION(S): Participants completed a jump-landing task and knee-laxity assessment 3 to 5 days after the onset of menses and within 3 days of a positive ovulation test.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Kinematics in the uninjured limb at initial contact with the ground during a jump landing, peak kinematics and kinetics during the loading phase of landing, anterior knee laxity via the KT-1000, peak vertical ground reaction force, and blood hormone concentrations (estradiol-β-17, progesterone, free testosterone).

RESULTS

At ovulation, estradiol-β-17 (t = -2.9, P = .009), progesterone (t = -3.4, P = .003), and anterior knee laxity (t = -2.3, P = .03) increased, and participants presented with greater knee-valgus moment (Z = -2.6, P = .01) and femoral internal rotation (t = -2.1, P = .047). However, during the menses test session, participants landed harder (greater peak vertical ground reaction force; t = 2.2, P = .04), with the tibia internally rotated at initial contact (t = 2.8, P = .01) and greater hip internal-rotation moment (Z = -2.4, P = .02). No other changes were observed across the menstrual cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

Knee and hip mechanics in both phases of the menstrual cycle represented a greater potential risk of ACL loading. Observed changes in landing mechanics may explain why the risk of second ACL injury is elevated in this population.