The Effect of Eight Weeks of Neuromuscular Training with Dual Cognitive Tasks on ‎Proprioception and Performance of Futsal Players with Dynamic Knee Valgus Deficit

Abstract

Purpose:Most anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur when the athlete’s attention is focused on performing tasks and cognitive challenges. Dysfunction of the performance and proprioception of the knee joint in the condition of divided attention exposes a person to ACL injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of neuromuscular training with dual cognitive tasks on the performance and proprioception of futsal players with dynamic knee valgus deficits.Methods:30 futsal players with dynamic knee valgus deficit (mean age: 21.86 ± 3.27 years, weight: 68.91 ± 99.55 kg, height: 175.6 ± 6.49 cm) were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two groups (control=15, experimental=15). In the pre-test, performance by tuck jump test and single leg triple hop test, as well as proprioception of the knee joint by digital imaging of the goniometric method were evaluated. The experimental group participated in a neuromuscular training program with dual cognitive tasks for eight weeks. Both groups performed a pre-test prior to the training period and performed a post-test two days after the training period in the experimental group. After data collection, univariate analysis of covariance and independent t-test were used to examine the means and differences between groups at a significant level (P≤0.05).Results:The results of statistical tests showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the Tuck jump test (P = 0.001) and Single Leg Triple Hop Test (P = 0.001) between the subjects of the two groups in the post-test, so the experimental group performance was better than the control group. There was no significant difference in proprioception of the knee (P=0.459), however, the mean error of proprioception reconstruction was further improved in the experimental group.Conclusion:The results of the present study showed that performing neuromuscular training with dual cognitive tasks significantly improves performance and reduces knee proprioception error. Therefore, it is possible that combining neuromuscular training with dual cognitive tasks as a new training approach can be effective to prevent ACL injury.

Keywords

• anterior cruciate ligament
• proprioception
• performance
• dual cognitive task
• neuromuscular training
• knee