Clinical trial NCT00124319: Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
Official title: Epidemiology of Jump-Landing Movements and ACL Injury
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Knee Injuries
Athletic Injuries
Keywords: Biomechanics
Neuromuscular
Lower limb
Injury
ACL
Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury
Lead sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
name: United States Department of Defense
First posted: 2005-07-27
Enrollment: 4800
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Incoming cadets at the U.S. Naval, Air Force, or Military Academies

Brief summary: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located inside the knee joint and provides stability to the knee. ACL injuries occur more frequently in women than men; the reason for this is unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine gender-specific anatomical, hormonal, and demographic risk factors for ACL injury. This observational cohort study will only enroll incoming cadets at the U.S. Naval, Air Force, or Military Academies.

Study hypothesis: Human movement factors, including key kinetics and kinematics of the knee during a jump-landing task, are associated with the rate of ACL injury.

Detailed description: The ACL stabilizes the knee joint by preventing the shinbone (tibia) from sliding forward beneath the thighbone (femur). A hard twist or excessive pressure on the ACL can tear or rupture the ligament, resulting in high levels of short-term disability and extensive rehabilitation. Previous data indicate that women who participate in sports or who are otherwise physically active have higher rates of ACL injury than men; the reason for this is unknown. There are four groups of potential risk factors for ACL injury: environmental, anatomical, hormonal, and biomechanical or neuromuscular. In particular, poor technique when landing from a jump (also known as jump-landing) is proposed as a specific neuromuscular risk factor of interest in this study. This study will determine gender-specific anatomical, hormonal, and demographic risk factors for ACL injury, as well as quantify gender-specific differences in jump-landing technique and other neuromuscular risk factors.

This observational cohort study will enroll 4,800 cadets at the three large U.S. military academies; approximately 50% of those enrolled will be women. Only incoming cadets at the U.S. Naval, Air Force, or Military Academies will be able to participate. Each study participant will undergo a baseline assessment that will include measurement of neuromuscular risk factors using motion analysis, strength testing, and standardized assessment of poor jump-landing technique using the Landing Error Score System (LESS). All participants will be followed for up to 4 years. ACL injuries will be prospectively identified; an injury questionnaire is administered to participants who sustain an ACL injury while they are cadets. Otherwise, there is no further contact.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Incoming cadet at the U.S. Naval, Air Force, or Military Academies

Primary outcomes:
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Colorado Springs
country: United States
facility: U.S. Air Force Academy
state: Colorado
city: Annapolis
country: United States
facility: U.S. Naval Academy
state: Maryland
city: West Point
country: United States
facility: U.S. Military Academy
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
name: Stephen W. Marshall, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: