Neuromuscular Differences Exist for the Lower Limb When Comparing Audio and Visual Cues to Induce Unanticipated Sidecut Maneuvers in University Soccer Players

INTRODUCTION Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are devastating knee injuries experienced by athletes who participate in sports that involve jump landings and cutting maneuvers and are 2-8 times more prevalent in females compared to males. This injury generally occurs approximately 40 milliseconds after initial ground contact while the athlete performs an abrupt, split-second decision to properly execute the high risk maneuver. The unanticipated nature of these maneuvers is often the result of overall game strategy to avoid and deceit opponents or as a response to external cues by teammates and coaches. Besier et al [1] were able to show that neuromuscular control patterns are different during unanticipated and preplanned cutting maneuvers and Landry et al [2] demonstrated sex differences in neuromuscular control patterns for unanticipated cutting maneuvers. To provide further insight into the understanding non-contact ACL injuries, the purpose of the study was to have university level soccer players perform unanticipated sidecut maneuvers on an artificial field-turf soccer field and compare neuromuscular control patterns of six lower extremity muscles between an audio cued and visual cued sidecut, for both the preand post-contact phases of the cut.