Falling Techniques Training for ACL Injury

Overseen By Boyi Dai, Ph.D.

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wyoming

Disqualifiers: Major injuries, Pregnancy, Allergies, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a special falling technique, known as Falling Training, to determine if it better protects the knee's ACL—a key ligament often injured in sports—compared to usual soft-landing techniques. Researchers aim to discover if this new landing method improves knee safety during various jumps and if its benefits persist over time. The trial also assesses the safety of this training for participants. It suits young recreational athletes, ages 14 to 30, who play jumping sports like basketball or volleyball at least twice a week. Participants should not have had major leg injuries or prior training in these specific falling techniques. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance sports safety for athletes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this training program is safe for young recreational athletes?

Earlier studies have shown that learning how to fall safely reduces the risk of injury during activities. Research indicates that these techniques lessen the impact on the knees, potentially protecting the ACL, an important knee ligament, from injury. In similar training studies, participants experienced fewer ACL injuries.

Regarding safety, early results suggest that people can learn these falling techniques without serious harm. While minor bruises might occur, no major injuries are expected, indicating that the training is generally well-tolerated. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about falling techniques training for ACL injury prevention because it offers a proactive approach to reducing the risk of injury, unlike traditional treatments that focus on rehabilitation after an injury has occurred. Current methods typically involve surgery, physical therapy, or bracing, which address ACL injuries post-factum. This innovative training emphasizes learning how to fall safely, potentially minimizing ACL stress during actual falls. By improving landing biomechanics through specific techniques, this method aims to prevent injuries before they happen, offering a fresh perspective on ACL injury management.

What evidence suggests that this training is effective for ACL injury prevention?

Research has shown that learning how to fall properly can help protect the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee. Studies have found that these techniques reduce the force on the knee, especially when landing. For instance, using these techniques can lower the risk of ACL injuries by 51%. In this trial, participants will undergo a one-week training of single-leg falling techniques to assess their impact on landing biomechanics associated with ACL loading. The goal is to change landing mechanics by bending the knee more to soften the impact. Overall, these falling techniques appear promising for protecting the knee and reducing the risk of injury during sports activities. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Boyi Dai, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Wyoming

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young recreational athletes aged 14-30 who play sports involving jump-landing activities at least once a week and exercise twice a week. It's not for those with allergies to adhesives, pregnant individuals, people with conditions limiting full sporting effort, or those with recent major injuries/surgeries.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 14 and 30 years old.

You regularly participate in sports that require jumping and landing, or have played sports at a competitive level in the past.

You need to be physically active by playing sports or exercising for at least 2 hours per week.

Exclusion Criteria

You have received training on how to prevent ACL injuries by learning techniques to avoid falling.

You have a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to participate in sports at your maximum effort.

I was unable to be physically active for over two weeks due to an injury in the last six months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Training

Participants perform one-week training of single-leg falling techniques

1 week

5 visits (in-person)

Post-training Assessment

Participants' landing mechanics are evaluated after the training

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Retention Assessment

Participants' landing mechanics are evaluated after a two-week break

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after training

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Falling Training

Trial Overview The study tests how one-week training in falling techniques affects landing mechanics related to ACL injury risk compared to soft-landing methods. It looks at immediate effects and retention after two weeks, aiming for safer landings without significant injuries.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: One-week training of falling techniques on landing biomechanics associated with ACL loading Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will perform one-week training of single-leg falling techniques, a post-training assessment, a two-week break, and a retention assessment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wyoming

Lead Sponsor

Trials

20

Recruited

1,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Knee extension constraint training for 4 weeks significantly improved knee flexion angles and reduced ground-reaction forces during landing tasks, which are critical for preventing ACL injuries, in a study involving 24 recreational athletes.

The training effects were retained for 4 weeks after the program ended, although the improvements were less pronounced, suggesting that this method could be an effective and time-efficient tool for ACL injury prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of knee extension constraint training on knee flexion angle and peak impact ground-reaction force. Liu, H., Wu, W., Yao, W., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7438605/

Falling as a strategy to decrease knee loading during ... Previous studies have quantified the effects of falling techniques on impact forces with a goal to reduce fall-related injuries in older adults ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-anterior-cruciate-ligament-injuries-2022-dd7ea

Falling Techniques Training for ACL Injury The overall purpose of this study is to quantify the effect and retention of one-week training of falling techniques on landing biomechanics associated with ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11887387/

Injury risk reduction programs including balance training ... In trials with participants training less than 20 min per week, ACL injuries were reduced by 46% (IRR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.91), with an I2 ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1050641123001086

Falling decreased anterior cruciate ligament loading ... Falling demonstrated variables associated with smaller ACL loading, particularly for perturbation conditions. Incorporating falling techniques into jump-landing ...

5. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144063

Effectiveness of Knee Injury and Anterior Cruciate Ligament ... Our analyses showed a statistically significant 27% reduction in knee injury rate and 51% reduction in ACL injury rate specifically. We suggest that athletic ...

6. jospt.org jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2023.0301

Exercise-Based Knee and Anterior Cruciate Ligament ... Eight studies with a total of 13 562 participants were included and demonstrated a significant, 53% reduction in ACL injury rates in those ...