Effect of Mulligan's and Kinesio knee taping on adolescent ballet dancers knee and hip biomechanics during landing.

Taping is often used to manage the high rate of knee injuries in ballet dancers; however, little is known about the effect of taping on lower-limb biomechanics during ballet landings in the turnout position. This study investigated the effects of Kinesiotape (KT), Mulligan's tape (MT) and no tape (NT) on knee and hip kinetics during landing in three turnout positions. The effect of taping on the esthetic execution of ballet jumps was also assessed. Eighteen pain-free 12-15-year-old female ballet dancers performed ballet jumps in three turnout positions, under the three knee taping conditions. A Vicon Motion Analysis system (Vicon Oxford, Oxford, UK) and Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc. (Watertown, Massa chusetts, USA) force plate collected lower-limb mechanics. The results demonstrated that MT significantly reduced peak posterior knee shear forces (P = 0.025) and peak posterior (P = 0.005), medial (P = 0.022) and lateral (P = 0.014) hip shear forces compared with NT when landing in first position. KT had no effect on knee or hip forces. No significant differences existed between taping conditions in all landing positions for the esthetic measures. MT was able to reduce knee and the hip forces without affecting the esthetic performance of ballet jumps, which may have implications for preventing and managing knee injuries in ballet dancers.

Somatotype in high performance female netball players may influence player position and the incidence of lower limb and back injuries.

AIMS: To investigate the relation between somatotype, performance characteristics, and the incidence of injury during the Australian Netball Championships. METHOD: Two hundred and forty high performance netball players competed at the Australian Netball Championships in which 213 (89%) were measured using the Heath-Carter somatotype scale. During these championships, in conjunction with the injury assessments, data analysis included a three factor analysis of variance (level of competition, playing position, and injury) for the dependent somatotype variables (endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectopmorphy), and the level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: For the three dependent somatotype variables, there were no main effects between endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy), and the level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: For the three dependent somatotype variables, there were no main effects between endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy and the incidence of injury. However, for the mesomorphy and ectomorphy variables, significant main effects for the playing position were found. No main effects existed between the somatotype variables and levels of competition. CONCLUSION: The somatotype variables did not influence the incidence of injury, but mesomorphy and ectomorphy did influence the different playing positions.

Do selected kinanthropometric and performance variables predict injuries in female netball players?

The aim of this study was to determine which kinanthropometric and performance variables predict injuries in female netball players. In a prospective study, 72 volunteer grade A netball players (mean age 20.6 +/- 3.6 years, range 15-36 years) were measured for hypermobility, somatotype, static balance, jumping abilities and anaerobic fitness at the University of Western Australia Human Movement Performance Laboratory prior to the start of their 14-week season. Injuries were classified by site, diagnosis and severity, and were monitored throughout the entire season by the same physiotherapist at the Western Australia (WA) Matthews Netball Centre, Perth, Australia. A total of 22 injuries in 22 players were recorded, affecting the ankle joint lateral ligament complex (59%), knee ligaments (18%), back (18%) and Achilles tendon (5%). Injuries were more common among grade A1 players than other grades (54 vs 19%, P < 0.001). Within grade A1 players, the proportion of injuries decreased with age (P < 0.05). Players were more likely to have had an injury if they had better jumping ability, better anaerobic fitness and if they were low on the endomorphy somatotype scale (P < 0.05). After allowing for both jumping ability and endomorphy, there was no longer a significant difference between A1 and non-A1 players in their risk for injury. Young elite players are at a substantially increased risk of injury. This higher risk appears to be associated with--if not a direct consequence of--their being thinner, fitter and having more powerful jumping capabilities. This suggests that injury-prevention programmes should be targeted at elite players, especially the younger ones.

Landing in netball: effects of taping and bracing the ankle.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of bracing and taping on selected electromyographic, kinematic, and kinetic variables when landing from a jump. METHODS: Fifteen netball players performed a jump, so as to land on their dominant limb on a force plate. Electromyographic activity was recorded from the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and peroneus longus muscles. Subjects were also filmed and measures of rearfoot motion were derived. RESULTS: Significantly less electromyographic activity (p<0.007) was observed from the gastrocnemius and peroneus longus muscle groups when subjects were braced. No other significant electromyographical findings were observed. Peak vertical ground reaction force and time to peak for vertical ground reaction force were not affected by bracing and taping, nor were the rearfoot and Achilles tendon angles at foot strike. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of bracing and taping on the selected biomechanics variables associated with landing was specifically limited to a reduction in muscle action, particularly for the braced condition. Netball players can be confident that the biomechanics of their landing patterns will not be altered whether they choose to wear a brace or tape their ankle joints.