Abstract des Autors

Objective: To examine sex differences in strength, Q-angle, and pronation as predictors of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Design and Setting: Height, weight, sum-of-seven skinfolds, quadriceps and hamstrings strength, Q-angle, and pronation were measured in each subject. Subjects: Male (n=23) and female (n=25) NCAA Division I basketball players, all from the same institution and participating in identical conditioning programs. Measurements: Strength was measured at 180ø/s using an isokinetic dynamometer. Q-angle was assessed with the leg fully extended and flexed to 30ø. Pronation was determined with the navicular drop test. Results: A 2x2 factorial analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the eccentric hamstrings-to-eccentric quadriceps strength ratio (female right = 46.11%+/-2.83%, left = 52.73%+/-3.74%; male right = 89.08%+/-6.34%, left = 93.16%+/-9.14% (P<.001)) and Q-angle measured in 30ø of flexion (female right = 13.37ø+/-0.99ø, left 15.56ø+/-1.34ø; male right = 5.62ø+/-0.75ø, left = 6.00ø+/-0.86ø (P=.05)). Conclusions: The results of this investigation indicate that, of the variables thought to contribute to ACL injuries, eccentric hamstrings strength relative to concentric quadriceps strength and Q-angle measured in 30ø of flexion appear to be significantly different in males and females. Verf.-Referat