Objective: To determine the role of limb dominance on energy absorption contribution (EAC) during a jump landing (JL) task at return to sport (RTS) after ACL-R.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: Clinical Research Laboratory.
Participants: One hundred eight participants (age = 16.19 ± 1.74, Height = 172.25 ± 9.96 cm, Weight = 72.61 ± 15.48 kg).
Main outcome measures: Participants were grouped into two groups: those who injured their dominant limb ACL (D-ACL) and those who injured their non-dominant limb ACL (ND-ACL). A multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to assess for between group differences in EAC across the three joints.
Results: In the surgical limb, D-ACL demonstrated smaller hip (D-ACL = 32.23 ± 10.44%, ND-ACL = 69.68 ± 8.51%, p < 0.008) and greater knee (D-ACL = 45.86 ± 10.36%, ND-ACL = 9.41 ± 5.68%, p < 0.008) EAC than ND-ACL. In the non-surgical limb, D-ACL demonstrated greater hip (D-ACL = 62.59 ± 9.03%, ND-ACL = 25.95 ± 7.15%, p < 0.008), and smaller knee (D-ACL = 13.79 ± 5.57%, ND-ACL = 58.01 ± 7.86%, p < 0.008), EAC than ND-ACL.
Conclusion: After ACL-R, eccentric loading strategies during a JL task at RTS are different depending upon limb dominance. D-ACL demonstrated a greater knee loading strategy on the surgical side compared to ND-ACL.
Keywords: ACL; Energy absorption contribution; Limb dominance; Return to sport.
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