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Sex differences in muscle activation patterns associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury during landing and cutting tasks : A systematic review

Otsuki, Reiko ; Del Bel, Michael J. and Benoit, Daniel L. LU (2021) In Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 60.
Abstract

Neuromuscular control is critical for maintaining dynamic joint stability and mitigating the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Given the increased risk of ACL injury in females, sex-based differential muscle activation strategies are often associated with this risk. For example, the quadriceps-dominant muscle activation strategy sometimes observed in females has been discussed as a cause of their increased risk of ACL injury. However, there has been no synthesised knowledge on sex differences in muscle activation patterns associated with ACL injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to synthesise sex differences in muscle activation patterns in movements associated with ACL injuries in both adult and adolescent... (More)

Neuromuscular control is critical for maintaining dynamic joint stability and mitigating the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Given the increased risk of ACL injury in females, sex-based differential muscle activation strategies are often associated with this risk. For example, the quadriceps-dominant muscle activation strategy sometimes observed in females has been discussed as a cause of their increased risk of ACL injury. However, there has been no synthesised knowledge on sex differences in muscle activation patterns associated with ACL injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to synthesise sex differences in muscle activation patterns in movements associated with ACL injuries in both adult and adolescent populations. A systematic electronic database search was conducted. Thirty studies were included in the review. Females demonstrated higher pre- and post-landing activation of the quadriceps and lower activation of the hamstrings in 15 studies. Females also had higher quadriceps-to-hamstring co-contraction ratios during pre- and post-landing phases compared to their male counterparts in 4 of 9 studies that considered co-contraction. While some studies supported the quadriceps-dominant activation strategies in females, no consensus can be drawn due to methodological inconsistencies and limitations. Also, despite the importance of ACL injury prevention in children and adolescents, the evidence on sex difference in muscle activation patterns in this population is insufficient to draw meaningful conclusions.

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author
; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Electromyography, Knee injuries, Neuromuscular control, Quadriceps
in
Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
volume
60
article number
102583
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:34392010
  • scopus:85112382262
ISSN
1050-6411
DOI
10.1016/j.jelekin.2021.102583
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
id
76253171-cc5a-4405-91a2-f44e9dd1fef1
date added to LUP
2023-08-24 16:27:49
date last changed
2024-06-15 06:48:51
@article{76253171-cc5a-4405-91a2-f44e9dd1fef1,
  abstract     = {{<p>Neuromuscular control is critical for maintaining dynamic joint stability and mitigating the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Given the increased risk of ACL injury in females, sex-based differential muscle activation strategies are often associated with this risk. For example, the quadriceps-dominant muscle activation strategy sometimes observed in females has been discussed as a cause of their increased risk of ACL injury. However, there has been no synthesised knowledge on sex differences in muscle activation patterns associated with ACL injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to synthesise sex differences in muscle activation patterns in movements associated with ACL injuries in both adult and adolescent populations. A systematic electronic database search was conducted. Thirty studies were included in the review. Females demonstrated higher pre- and post-landing activation of the quadriceps and lower activation of the hamstrings in 15 studies. Females also had higher quadriceps-to-hamstring co-contraction ratios during pre- and post-landing phases compared to their male counterparts in 4 of 9 studies that considered co-contraction. While some studies supported the quadriceps-dominant activation strategies in females, no consensus can be drawn due to methodological inconsistencies and limitations. Also, despite the importance of ACL injury prevention in children and adolescents, the evidence on sex difference in muscle activation patterns in this population is insufficient to draw meaningful conclusions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Otsuki, Reiko and Del Bel, Michael J. and Benoit, Daniel L.}},
  issn         = {{1050-6411}},
  keywords     = {{Electromyography; Knee injuries; Neuromuscular control; Quadriceps}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology}},
  title        = {{Sex differences in muscle activation patterns associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury during landing and cutting tasks : A systematic review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2021.102583}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jelekin.2021.102583}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}