Depth Jump - Damping Mechanism in Non-contact Acl Injury Prevention a Biomechanical Evaluation

ACL injury continues to be the largest single problem in orthopedic sports medicine, with approximately 95,000 new injuries occurring every year. Non-contact mechanisms represent 80% of the traumatic events resulting in more than 2000 ACL injuries per years between young athletes aged 14–23 years. Acceleration, deceleration, change of direction, landing and pivoting are the most common mechanisms responsible for non-contact ACL injuries. According to D.A.Padua and S.W.Marshall (2006), it seems as if the most successful ACLinjury-prevention exercise programs incorporate a multifaceted exercise approach including both proprioceptive and plyometric training. Jump-landing exercises – such as the depth jump have been used to optimize neuromuscular control of the lower extremity: damping mechanism associated with a higher degree of knee flexion – between 75 and 85 degrees and hip flexion seems to provide the optimal muscle recruitment to improve landing technique in such activities where rapid deceleration, acceleration, pivoting and change of direction are required.