Focus Strategies for Preventing Knee Injuries
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Female athletes are at higher risk of knee injuries, particularly non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, often caused by dynamic knee valgus during landing. Proper landing techniques and neuromuscular training are crucial for injury prevention. Attentional focus strategies, such as external focus (EF) and internal focus (IF), can influence movement patterns, muscle activation, and skill transfer during landing tasks. EF generally promotes safer and more controlled landings, while IF offers certain kinematic benefits. However, real-world sports often require a combination of attentional strategies, and the effects of combined EF + IF instructions on landing mechanics and muscle activation have not been fully studied.
This study will investigate the effects of EF and combined attentional focus instructions on lower extremity and trunk movement, muscle activation, and skill transfer in young female athletes with asymptomatic dynamic knee valgus. The investigators aim to determine whether combined attentional focus training provides greater improvements in landing mechanics, muscle activation, and skill transfer than EF training alone.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Pelin Pişirici, PT, PhD
Principal Investigator
Bahçeşehir University
Sharon Teng, PT, PhD
Principal Investigator
California State University, Department of Physical Therapy
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for young female athletes aged 18-30 with a healthy body weight (BMI of 18.5-25) who are active at least three times a week. They should have dynamic knee valgus greater than 10°, which means their knees tend to collapse inward when they squat.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Training
Participants perform training blocks consisting of 5 repetitions and 2 sets of single-leg drop jump landings with different focus instructions
Immediate Post-Intervention Assessment
3D motion analysis and EMG assessments are conducted immediately after the intervention to evaluate changes in kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for retention of training effects one week after the baseline
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Combined Focus of Attention Instruction
- External Focus of Attention Instruction
Trial Overview
The study tests how different instructions on where to focus attention during jumps affect landing techniques in these athletes. It compares no instruction, focusing on the body's movements (internal), and focusing on something external like the ground or ball (external).
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
After participants meet the inclusion criteria are randomized and assigned to the external attentional focus group. They will perform training blocks consisting of 5 repetitions and 2 sets of single-leg drop jump landings before and after the evaluations. During the jumps, instructions will focus on external attentional focus and will be repeated for each jump. A 1-minute rest period will be provided between training blocks.
After participants meet the inclusion criteria are randomized and assigned to the combined attentional focus group. They will perform training blocks consisting of 5 repetitions and 2 sets of single-leg drop jump landings before and after the evaluations. During the jumps, instructions will focus on combined attentional focus and will be repeated for each jump. A 1-minute rest period will be provided between training blocks.
After participants meet the inclusion criteria are randomized and assigned to the control group. They will perform training blocks consisting of 5 repetitions and 2 sets of single-leg drop jump landings before and after the intervention. During the jumps, no instructions will be given. A 1-minute rest period will be provided between training blocks.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Bahçeşehir University
Lead Sponsor
California State University, Long Beach
Collaborator
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