Motion Analysis of Sidestep Cutting in Football Simulating Pressing Situations: A Focus on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk Factors

Tatsuya Kono, Yoshitsugu Tanino, Noriyuki Kida
Purpose:

This study aimed to determine whether changes in the kinematics and kinetics occur during SSC maneuvers under conditions simulating pressing situations. 

Methods:

Ten healthy adult males with football experience participated in this study. They performed a 90º SSC maneuver with their left leg under the following three conditions: running straight after the SSC (Normal condition), reaching for a ball placed at 70% and 100% of their maximum straddle width to the right of the force platform, and stretching out their right leg to reach the ball (Pressing 70% and Pressing 100% conditions, respectively). In the pressing condition, we made every effort to replicate the pressing situation as closely as possible. A total of 40 reflective markers were attached to the trunk, pelvis, and lower limbs. The peak values of the lateral lean angle of the trunk, external knee valgus moment, and internal rotation moment—factors thought to be related to ACL injury—were extracted during the 20% stance time of the SSC as outcomes. The data were calculated using a three-dimensional optical motion analysis system and a force platform. The trunk leaning angle was defined with respect to the global coordinate system, where leaning in the direction of progression after SSC was positive, and lateral leaning was negative. The joint moments were calculated using an inverse dynamics analysis. A Bonferroni-corrected paired t-test was used to compare conditions, with the significance level set at 5%.

Results:

The peak lateral trunk lean angle was significantly greater in the Pressing 70% (–2.4 ± 7.4º) and 100% (–3.5 ± 8.4º) conditions than in the Normal condition (6.7 ± 8.1º) (p 0.001 for both conditions). No significant differences were found between the conditions for the peak external knee valgus or internal rotation moments.

Conclusion(s):

Simulating a pressing situation revealed a trunk posture associated with a higher risk of ACL injury. However, under the conditions of this study, no differences were observed in knee joint moments between the groups, despite their known association with ACL injury.

Implications:

In pressing situations, trunk posture may increase the risk of ACL injury as players position themselves to efficiently contest the ball.

Funding acknowledgements:
This study was unfunded.
Keywords:
ACL injury
sidestep cutting
pressing
Primary topic:
Sport and sports injuries
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Institution: Kansai University of Health Sciences Committee: The Research Ethics Review Committee of Kansai University of Health Sciences
Provide the ethics approval number:
24-04
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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