The effect of fatigue induced from a simulated hockey match on biomechanical ACL injury risk factors in elite female field hockey players

This study investigated the effect of fatigue induced from team sport on the biomechanical factors of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk. Peak knee moments, full body kinematics and lower limb muscle activation of 14 elite female athletes were measured during unplanned sidestepping prior to, and following, a 15 minute team sport simulation circuit. There were no changes in peak knee moments. Reductions in knee flexion angle and total muscle activation (TMA) of muscles crossing the knee (n=9) were observed (p<0.05). This was explained by reductions in hamstring TMA with a reduction in gluteal (n=2) TMA also found (p<0.05). Future research is needed to understand neurophysiological mechanisms associated with the unique and unintuitive muscle activation strategies adopted by team sport athletes when fatigued.