Technique determinants of knee abduction moments during pivoting in female soccer players

•Biomechanical determinants of knee abduction moments during pivoting were examined•Initial foot progression angle was related to peak knee abduction moments•Initial knee abduction angle was related to peak knee abduction moments•Technique modification for pivots should aim to reduce these two variables

BackgroundNo previous studies have investigated the optimal technique for pivoting with regard to reducing peak knee abduction moments and potential knee injury risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between technique characteristics and peak knee abduction moments during pivoting.MethodsTwenty-seven female soccer players [mean (SD); age: 21 (3.8) years, height: 1.67 (0.07) m, and mass: 60.0 (7.2) kg] participated in the study. Three dimensional motion analyses of pivots on the right leg were performed using 10 Qualysis ‘Pro reflex’ infrared cameras (240 Hz). Ground reaction forces were collected from two AMTI force platforms (1200 Hz) embedded into the running track to examine penultimate and final contact. Pearson's correlation coefficients, co-efficients of determination and stepwise multiple regression were used to explore relationships between a range of technique parameters and peak knee abduction moments. Significance was set at P < 0.05.FindingsStepwise multiple regression found that initial foot progression and initial knee abduction angles together could explain 35% (30% adjusted) of the variation in peak knee abduction moments (F(2,26) = 6.499, P = 0.006).InterpretationThe results of the present study suggest that initial-foot progression and knee abduction angles are potential technique factors to lower knee abduction moments during pivoting.