Biomechanical Symmetry during Drop Jump Landing and Takeoff in Adolescent Athletes Following Recent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

This study investigated asymmetry between lower extremities during the landing and takeoff phases of a vertical drop jump (VDJ) in adolescent athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) examined if performance was affected by reducing height. Thirty-three who underwent ACLR were referred for 3D biomechanical assessment before returning to play (mean age 15.9, SD 1.3 years; 16/33 female; mean time since surgery 7.4, 1.2 months) completed VDJ while kinematics kinetics collected using motion capture. Lower extremity symmetry compared paired t-tests. Jump height calculated measure performance. Asymmetries ankle inversion, adduction, knee hip adduction moment, rotation moment observed both phases. Asymmetry also sagittal moments power integrals at total integral, with magnitude being smaller absorption/generation. related generation but not generation. Since asymmetries are translated from through takeoff, rehabilitation should address decrease injury risk maximize after return play.