Motor pattern of the knee joint muscles during side-step cutting in European team handball - Influence on muscular co-ordination after an intervention study

The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries is reported to b e high in many popular team sports, The most risky movement in European tea m handball is reported to be the side-step cutting manoeuvre, Well-rehabili tated ACL-deficient athletes have been shown to have increased co-contracti on about the knee joint with this manoeuvre. The aim of this study was to e xamine the effect of a prophylactic training programme on the co-contractio n action of the knee joints of non-injured European team handball players. The subjects performed 'match-like' cutting manoeuvres on a force platform. EMG-signals from the involved knee joint muscles and force platform signal s were simultaneously stored on a personal computer. The data collected bef ore and after a 12-week prophylactic training program were compared, The re sults demonstrated that rehabilitation exercises cannot increase co-contrac tion about the knee joint in healthy athletes during side-step cutting. Thi s is contradictory to the reported effect on ACL-deficient athletes.