Book Description

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an 8 week neuromuscular training program on lower extremity knee valgus angle in African American athletes. We hypothesized a neuromuscular training program would signficantly decrease lower extremity knee valgus angles during a drop vertical jump at landing compared to a control group. Fifteen female volleyball, track, softball players underwent an 8 week intervention neuromuscular training program that included three main components. While eleven controls underwent the resistance training protocol for eight weeks. With this directional hypothesis we used a T-Test on the difference between tests. Intervention athletes pre- and posttest 2-dimensional analysis demonstrated decreased knee valgus angles during a drop vertical jump landing maneuver. Intervention mean was a 9.4 degree decrease in valgus from pretest and control mean was 0.6 degree decrease in valgus from pretest. The subjects undergoing the neuromuscular training program demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in knee valgus angle compared to controls. Measurements taken from the suibjects with 2-dimensional motion analysis were used to calculate the knee flexion range of motion during landing from a drop box vertical jump. Maximum knee flexion range of motion increased fro 74.7 plus or minus 1.9 to 78.5 plus or minus 1.6. Control subjects did not demonstrate significant changes in knee valgus or knee flexion anlges during the 8 week protocol. The results of this study support the hypothesis that an 8 week neuromuscular training program that combines injury prevention-training components can decrease an injury risk factor such as knee valgus in African American female athletes.