Ligamentous laxity in secondary school athletes.

An increase in ligamentous laxity has been said to predispose athletes to injury of the joint. To evaluate the usefulness of testing ligamentous laxity to predict a predisposition to injury in secondary school athletes, 166 male football players, 84 female basketball players, and 32 male basketball players were tested. The results were compared with those for 167 males and 223 females in high school but not involved in interscholastic sports. No correlation could be found between ligamentous laxity and the occurrence or type of injury.