The Effects of Limb Dominance on Lower Extremity Biomechanics During Side-Cut Landings

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are prevalent among females, with the majority occurring during the landing phase after airborne activity. While limb dominance has been proposed as a potential factor contributing to non-contact ACL injuries, research findings on this relationship remain inconsistent. Examining asymmetries in lower extremity landing mechanics between limbs prior to a side-cut may offer valuable insights into the role of limb dominance in non-contact ACL injuries. Therefore, our purpose of this study was to determine if limb dominance affects lower extremity landing biomechanics in females preceding a side-cutting. METHODS Thirteen recreational female athletes participated in this study. Each athlete performed double-leg drop landings from a height of 0.5 meters, landing each foot on a separate force plate. Following the landing, participants executed a 45-degree diagonal cut to the right or left. Three trials were completed for each cut direction in a counterbalanced order. Dominance was determined based on the limb the participant used to kick a ball for maximum distance. Lower extremity joint angular kinematics and ground reaction forces were compared between landing conditions using paired t-tests (p <0.05). RESULTS Compared to dominant side-cut landing, non-dominant side-cut landing resulted in increased maximum knee abduction and ankle eversion, greater vertical and anterior ground reaction forces (GRFs), and a shorter time to reach the peak vertical GRF. CONCLUSIONS Greater frontal plane joint movements and higher peak magnitudes of vertical and anterior ground reaction forces may elevate knee valgus stress, potentially increasing the risk of ACL injury in the non-dominant limb during landing.

Keywords

• drop landing
• limb asymmetry
• anterior cruciate ligament