Impact of Neuromuscular Fatigue on Dynamic Knee Valgus in Female Basketball Players

TL;DR

This study examines how neuromuscular fatigue affects knee valgus in female basketball players during dynamic movements, finding that fatigue does not significantly increase the risk.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the biomechanical effects of fatigue on knee valgus in female athletes during directional changes.

Findings

Dynamic knee valgus increased with the angle of directional change but was not significantly affected by neuromuscular fatigue.

National-level athletes showed lower valgus angles compared to regional-level athletes.

Higher valgus angles during directional changes highlight the need for injury prevention strategies in female basketball players.

Abstract

Dynamic knee valgus is a biomechanical condition often linked to an increased risk of knee injuries, particularly in female athletes, due to greater hip adduction, internal rotation, and knee abduction during dynamic movements. This study aimed to assess the impact of neuromuscular fatigue on dynamic knee valgus in female basketball players during single-leg drop jumps (DJ-SL) and change of direction (COD) tests at 45° and 90°. Thirty-three athletes, divided into national and regional performance groups, performed these movements before and after a fatigue protocol. Fatigue was induced through a series of anaerobic exercises, and frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) was used to measure knee valgus. The results showed that dynamic knee valgus increased with the angle of directional change (from 24.77° ± 8.25 at 45° to 34.55° ± 10.40 at 95° pre-fatigue, and from 26.59° ± 12.30 at 45° to 35.87° ± 10.37 post-fatigue), but was not significantly affected by neuromuscular fatigue. The national group demonstrated lower valgus angles compared to the regional group, indicating potential performance differences based on competitive level. These findings suggest that while neuromuscular fatigue does not notably impact knee valgus, the higher valgus angles during directional changes warrant attention in injury prevention programs for female basketball players. Further research is needed to explore other factors influencing knee mechanics and injury risk.

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