남녀 대학생들의 수직착지 시 성에 따른 무릎 외반각도의 차이

Gender Differences of Knee Valgus Angle during Vertical Drop Landing in College Students

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender differences existed in knee valgus kinematics in college students when performing a vertical drop landing. The hypothesis of this study was that females would demonstrate greater knee valgus motion. These differences in knee valgus motion may be indicative of decreased dynamic knee joint control in females. This study compared the initial knee valgus angle and maximum knee valgus angle at the instant of impact on vertical drop landings between healthy men and women. In this study, 60 participants (30 males, 30 females) dropped from a height of 43 cm. A digital camera and two-dimensional video motion analysis software were used to analyze the kinematic data. There was significant difference in the mean knee valgus angle at initial contact landing between the two groups (Mean=$7.88^{\circ}$, SD=$4.24^{\circ}$ in males, Mean=$12.93^{\circ}$, SD=$2.89^{\circ}$ in females). The range of knee valgus angle on landing (Mean=$3.25^{\circ}$, SD=$5.72^{\circ}$ in males, Mean=$11.44^{\circ}$, SD=$6.39^{\circ}$ in females) was differed significantly (p<.05). The maximal angle of knee valgus on landing (Mean=$10.91^{\circ}$, SD=$6.89^{\circ}$ in males, Mean=$24.25^{\circ}$, SD=$6.38^{\circ}$ in females) was also differed significantly (p<.05). The females landed with a larger range of knee valgus motion than the males and this might have increased the likelihood of a knee injury. The absence of dynamic knee joint stability may be responsible for increased rates of knee injury in females. No method for accurate and practical screening and identification of athletes at increased risk of ACL injury is currently available to target those individuals that would benefit from neuromuscular training before sports participation.