CONTEXT:Clinicians assessing limb symmetry after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) use various tools including functional tests (eg, countermovement jump [CMJ]) and isolated strength tests (eg, isometric isokinetic dynamometry). However, it is unclear how these different assessment modalities and calculation methods compare, which may have significant implications for clinical decision making when interpreting asymmetry. DESIGN:A repeated-measures, cross-sectional observational study. METHODS:Fourteen participants post-ACLR (phase 3 rehabilitation) and 25 healthy controls were assessed. Participants completed unilateral isometric knee extension testing on an isokinetic dynamometer and bilateral CMJ testing on a dual force plate system. Asymmetry was calculated using 5 different equations. RESULTS:A within-group analysis showed that participants post-ACLR had significantly different asymmetry magnitudes when comparing the CMJ and isometric tests (mean difference = 5.64%-12.45%, P < .006). Healthy controls showed no difference in asymmetry between the 2 tests (P > .617). A between-group analysis showed that the ACLR group was significantly more asymmetric than controls on both the CMJ test (mean difference = 7.95%-22.12%, P < .001) and the isometric test (mean difference = 14.02%-36.24%, P < .001). However, both testing methods exhibited adequate sensitivity (0.79) and specificity (0.99) for differentiating those with ACLR from healthy controls. CONCLUSION:Asymmetry values are highly dependent on the assessment modality (functional jump vs isolated strength). While participants post-ACLR were more asymmetric than healthy controls on both tests, the magnitude of their asymmetry differed significantly between the 2 tests. This finding indicates that asymmetry values from functional and isolated tests are not interchangeable and underscores the need for test-specific interpretation in clinical practice.

Background: Sleep hygiene protocols (SHPs) have been shown to improve sleep and stress regulation; however, the role of cortisol in shaping downstream physiological and performance adaptations remains unclear. This study primarily examined the effects of a short-term SHP on sleep duration and salivary cortisol responses across resting, pre-exercise, and post-exercise states in female collegiate soccer players and, secondarily, whether cortisol statistically mediated selected aerobic and anaerobic performance outcomes. Methods: Fourteen players (22.1 ± 3.3 y; 157.8 ± 6.0 cm; 53.5 ± 3.9 kg) completed a randomised, counterbalanced crossover study comparing habitual sleep (no sleep hygiene protocol; nSHP) with a comprehensive SHP incorporating environmental, behavioural, and educational strategies. Salivary cortisol was sampled one hour post-waking and 30 min pre- and 15 min post-exercise during standardised testing sessions. Performance outcomes included vertical jump, sprint performance (40 m and repeated sprints [RAST]), and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1. Linear mixed-effects models assessed cortisol responses, and mediation analyses explored cortisol–performance relationships. Results: After SHP, perceived (7.87 h vs. 6.5 h; p = 0.002, ESg = 1.0) and calculated sleep duration (8.5 h vs. 6.9 h; p = 0.004, ESg = 0.95) increased significantly. Cortisol was markedly lower following SHP at selected timepoints, including before RAST (−43.05%, p = 0.006, ESg = 0.84), with additional timepoint-specific, condition-dependent differences post-anaerobic and post-aerobic exercise (Δ = 7.37 and 5.98 nmol·L−1, respectively; p < 0.001). Vertical jump height demonstrated significant total (9.92 cm, p = 0.002) and direct effects (7.72 cm, p = 0.034), and peak repeated-sprint performance showed a significant direct effect (p = 0.026). Cortisol did not significantly mediate any performance outcomes (ACME p > 0.05). Conclusions: Short-term sleep hygiene is associated with increased sleep duration, timepoint-specific modulation of cortisol responses, and selected anaerobic performance benefits; however, these effects were not explained by measured cortisol responses and are unlikely to be sustained without ongoing reinforcement or support, particularly in athletic populations.

Background: Proprioception encompasses position sense, posture and body movements, providing essential sensory information for learning and controlling movements, which is critical for children’s motor development, coordination and school readiness. Existing proprioceptive tests are primarily clinical, costly and difficult to apply in resource-limited settings, thus creating a need for feasible and reliable tasks to evaluate proprioception. Aim: This study aimed to establish inter-rater and test-retest reliability of existing proprioceptive tasks. Setting: This study was conducted in the Mangaung area of South Africa, involving participants from a Quintile 3 school. Methods: Twenty-four participants (50% males and 50% females) between the ages of 6 and 9 years completed six proprioceptive tasks on two occasions, 5 days apart. The performances were video recorded and rated by three reviewers. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability of each task item was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient for a single rater and for absolute agreement across multiple raters. Results: Three of the tests exhibited moderate test-retest reliability (shoulder-level-arm-raise both arms, finger-to-nose total and shoulder-level-arm-raise total), and one showed good reliability (Finger-to-nose eyes closed). Inter-rater reliability showed greater consistency; excellent reliability was shown for two task items (Rhomberg and force perception), and three showed moderate reliability (shoulder-level-arm-raise, both arms, and preferred arm, angels-in-the-snow and reciprocal imitations). Conclusion: The proprioceptive task items were deemed reliable to use in a field-based setting for children. Contribution: This study provides the first evidence of reliability for field-based proprioceptive tasks for South African children, identifying several tasks that can be confidently applied in school and community settings.

Heavy schoolbags are common among school-aged adolescents, yet biomechanical consequences across developmental stages and between sexes remain poorly defined, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated the effect of schoolbag carriage on gait in South African adolescents. A total of 186 injury-free adolescents (ages 12-18) completed barefoot walking trials over a pressure platform under unloaded and loaded conditions. Spatiotemporal and kinetic gait parameters were recorded and normalized to body height and weight. Analyses included (1) comparison of schoolbag mass by sex and grade (ie, school year); (2) evaluation of gait by loading condition, grade, and sex; and (3) prediction of loaded-condition gait parameters by relative schoolbag mass. Grades 8 to 11 carried higher absolute loads and grade 8 carried highest relative loads, with 58% exceeding 15% body mass, but no sex differences were found. Load carriage increased stance and double support time; reduced swing phase; and elevated vertical forces, pressures, and loading rates. Females exhibited higher forefoot and midfoot pressures and narrower step width. Relative schoolbag mass predicted greater forefoot/heel loads, lower midfoot loads, and narrower step width. Schoolbag carriage imposes substantial biomechanical demands, particularly in early adolescence and among females, emphasizing need for age- and sex-specific guidelines to mitigate long-term musculoskeletal risk.

The rehabilitation of patients following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) requires objective assessments that can identify between-limb asymmetries in jump performance to guide return-to-play (RTP) decisions. This study investigated kinetic asymmetries in ACLR patients using loaded and unloaded vertical jumping across multiple rehabilitation phases to assess neuromuscular recovery and readiness for RTP. Participants (ACLR, n = 18; 14 males and 4 females; ages 20 ± 2.46 years) completed unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJUL), unilateral drop jumps (DJUL), and loaded squat jumps (SJ) on dual force plates during phases 3 ( 16 weeks), and 4 ( 20 weeks) of rehabilitation. Metrics including reactive strength index (RSI), jump height (JH), and force-velocity (FV) profiles analysed for inter-limb asymmetries. Statistical analyses included statistical parametric mapping to evaluate between-limb differences in the force-time waveforms and repeated measures ANOVAs for jumping-based metrics with standardised effect sizes (Cohen’s d) calculated for key pairwise comparisons of the between-limb differences. Significant between-limb asymmetries were observed throughout key phases of the force-time waveform in both CMJUL and DJUL tests (p < 0.001), with moderate-to-large effect sizes for RSI (d = 1.32–1.41) and JH (d = 1.53–2.01) across both phases. Force asymmetries persisted in the propulsive phases of CMJUL and DJUL and loaded SJ trials revealed substantial force production asymmetries (mean asymmetry angle > 25

Tracking knee joint movement during activities of daily living can have the potential to transform the rehabilitation and functional assessment of patients. The present study evaluated the validity of a low-cost, instrumented knee brace to determine whether it was appropriate for the monitoring and quantification of human knee function during five activity-of-daily-living (ADL) tasks including walking, inclined walking, stepping, sitting, and object manipulation. A sensor platform was designed to acquire sagittal plane knee data from 13 healthy participants across five different tasks and compared to gold-standard motion analysis. The brace showed good-to-excellent validity (RMSE: 4.97–8.65°), with differences in knee joint angles and angular velocities noted during various ADLs, specifically during early and late portions of a given movement. The results for instantaneous knee joint angles and angular velocities were very similar to those of the gold-standard system (mean bias: 0.59–9.52°·s−1), which may be applicable to everyday movement tasks, but may preclude analyses at a clinical level. Although the low-cost sensor platform shows promise an effective monitoring tool, it is not ready yet for a clinical application.

ABSTRACT:Visagie, N, Coetzee, B, and Kramer, M. Agreement between results of the Lamberts and Lambert Submaximal Cycle Test and heart rate variability to indicate training-induced load in elite road cyclists. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between the Lamberts and Lambert submaximal cycle test (LSCT) results and heart rate variability (HRV) to indicate training-induced load in road cyclists. Weekly LSCT tests and daily HRV morning readings of 13 elite, male road cyclists (aged 22.63 ± 3.31 years) were monitored over a seven-week precompetitive training period. In addition, a repeated measures correlation analysis (RMCorr) was used to evaluate the overall common intraindividual associations between the LSCT-related and HRV-related variables. As such, a significant moderate positive relationship was identified between Total HRV and stage 3 mean power output (W) (RMCorr = 0.41, p = 0.000), with weaker relationships observed between Total HRV and stages 2 (RMCorr = -0.23, p = 0.029) and 3 mean exercise HR (b·min -1 ) (RMCorr = 0.32; p = 0.002). Similarly, significant weak, negative correlations were identified between NN50, pNN50 (%), and the rate of perceived exertion of stages 2 (RMCorr = -0.30, p = 0.004; RMCorr = -0.25, p = 0.016) and 3 (RMCorr = -0.39, p = 0.000; RMCorr = -0.27, p = 0.008). Furthermore, significant weak negative and positive relationships, respectively, were obtained between NN50, absolute (b·min -1 ) (RMCorr = -0.27, p = 0.008), and relative HRR 90 (%) (RMCorr = 0.28, p = 0.007). In conclusion, although HRV parasympathetic nervous system indicators predict responses of the LSCT performance and load indicators; the low practical significance of results challenges the notion of using morning HRV parameters as proxies for the outcome measures of the LSCT.

PURPOSE:We tested the overarching hypothesis that the expended rate of work above critical power ( W ' Balance) during all-out whole-body exercise is related to a decline in prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation secondary to an organized systemic outstripping of muscle O 2 supply relative to O 2 demand. METHODS:We concomitantly measured ( n = 16 males) skeletal muscle O 2 saturation (vastus lateralis near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS); %S m O 2 ), pulmonary O 2 uptake (V̇O 2 ), and hemoglobin (Hb) differential (∆[O 2 Hb - HHb]) as an index of PFC O 2 mismatch ( pfc O 2 ) via functional NIRS bilaterally in the ventrolateral (VLPFC), dorsolateral (DLPFC), and orbitofrontal (OFC) cortices during brief all-out cycling exercise (highest instantaneous power for 3 min). RESULTS:All-out exercise evoked significant changes in %S m O 2 (∆ -28.8% ± 14.1%), V̇O 2 (∆27.7% ± 10.3%), and global pfc O 2 (∆ -7.6% ± 4.8%). Decreases in regional pfc O 2 were greater in the VLPFC (∆ -10.9 ± 6.1 μM) versus DLPFC (∆ -4.8 ± 4.5 μM) or OFC (∆ -5.9 ± 4.2 μM). Spatiotemporal analysis by O 2 measurement location revealed a steep rate of change transition phase followed by a maximal sustaining plateau, and progression of this pattern occurred sequentially first in muscle (~13 s) → pulmonary (~44 s) → PFC (~80 s). Transition phase O 2 indices were strongly correlated with the rate of W ' Balance expended (muscle, R2 = 0.91; pulmonary, R2 = 0.997; PFC, R2 = 0.968), with crossover between regional O 2 mismatches occurring at the same % W ' Balance (end muscle = 71% vs start pulmonary = 65%, P = 0.56; end pulmonary = 26% vs start PFC = 30%, P = 0.83) and end PFC transition phase occurring at complete depletion of W' (end PFC = -0.9%). CONCLUSIONS:We conclude that whole-body all-out exercise tolerance may arise from a progressive O 2 mismatch from skeletal muscle to the brain.

This study aimed to establish whether a laboratory (lab) based 3-minute all-out (3MT) protocol and a field-based 3MT protocol would yield similar peak power (Pmax), critical power (CP), and curvature constant (W') profiles and the implications of parameter estimation for informing a 40-km time trial (TT) performance. Nine competitive male cyclists (mean ± SD: age 36.5 ± 10.42 y, mass = 80.5 ± 10.6 kg, height 1.8 ± 0.1 m) completed two 3MTs on separate days, as well as a 40-km time trial. Both lab and field-based protocols evoked similar CP (p = 0.160) and W' (p = 0.200) profiles, but Pmax (p = 0.012) may be more sensitive to biomechanical disparities and testing environment. Strong positive associations were observed with W'-kinetics (r = 0.73) and W' (r = 0.83) and moderate-to-strong negative associations with mean TT power (r = -0.75) and CP (r = -0.68). TT power outputs occur at 59-65% of CP, and finishing times appear to be informed by CP, W' and Pmax with high degrees of accuracy (R2 > 0.90). Although TT performances occur predominantly within the moderate-to-heavy intensity domains, the mean intensity from a cardiovascular and core temperature perspective was high (i.e., ~90% HRmax; ~39°C). TT performances appear to be accurately informed by CP, W' and Pmax, with W' dominating the predictive capacity associated with longer TT performances.

PURPOSE:This study evaluated the utility of the 3-minute all-out running test (3MT) in assessing match performance and physiologically relevant load metrics among male university soccer players. We aimed to explore the relationship between 3MT metrics, including critical speed (CS), finite energy reserve (D'), and maximal running speed (Smax), with key match performance indicators, while also assessing the efficacy of a modified method for tracking player load. METHODS:Twenty-six male university soccer players completed the 3MT to determine CS, D', and maximal speed (Smax). Match performance data (n = 3-8 matches per player) were concurrently gathered, including total distance covered, high-speed running (HSR), very high-speed running (VHSR), and overall player load. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between 3MT variables and match performance, with a specific focus on how a modified load-tracking method compared to traditional approaches. RESULTS:Players with higher CS exhibited smaller fluctuations in D' kinetics, indicating more efficient energy utilization during matches. A strong positive correlation was found between 3MT-derived Smax and the initiation of both HSR (r = 0.73, p < 0.01) and VHSR (r = 0.69, p < 0.05), highlighting the link between sprint capacity and match-specific high-intensity efforts. Lastly, a modified method for assessing player load demonstrated a high correlation with traditional methods (r = 0.99), while also accounting for individual metabolic demands. The modified approach offers a more nuanced understanding of player workload, potentially improving fatigue management, performance, and injury prevention. CONCLUSIONS:The 3MT proved to be a valuable tool for evaluating individual physiological conditioning while also mapping on to key match performance metrics and external loads in university soccer players. The association with key performance indicators such as high-speed running capacity and sustained effort highlights its potential for optimizing training strategies.

Netball is a popular, high-intensity team sport played globally by more than 20 million players. Due to the high intensity and high participation levels, there is a high injury prevalence. The lower back region has been identified as the third most common site of injury within female team sports, with somatotype also influencing injury rates within netball. The objective of this research was to evaluate changes and explore relationships between somatotype and lower back strength (LBS) during a single netball season in university-level female netball players. A lack of evidence was found to support a relationship between changes in LBS and changes in a raw ectomorph (p=0.741), mesomorph (p=0.677) and endomorph (p=0.81) somatotype score during a single netball season in university-level female netball players. Statistically significant differences were noted for mesomorph somatotype score which increased LBS (12.35 kg) at the end of the season compared with the beginning of the season (p=0.004). A relationship between whole-body muscle strength and a dominant mesomorph somatotype score is important in netball because increased strength leads to adequate lumbo-pelvic hip-complex stability, thus reducing injuries and improving athletic performance.

Rehabilitation following successful ACL reconstruction (ACLR) requires restoring physical strength, neuromuscular function, and psychological readiness. However, the interplay between reactive agility, strength, and psychological confidence across rehabilitation phases remains unclear, particularly when compared to uninjured individuals. This study investigates the interrelationships between the reactive agility test (RAT), the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and the anterior cruciate ligament return-to-sport after injury (ACL-RSI) scale across three rehabilitation phases (Phase 4 [P4], return-to-play [RTP]1, and RTP2) following ACLR. The aim was to examine how reactive agility, strength, and psychological readiness evolve over time and compare ACLR participants to a healthy control group. Fifteen ACLR participants (15–27 years old) and thirty healthy controls (18– 30 years old) completed RAT, isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and ACL-RSI assessments. ACLR participants were assessed at three rehabilitation phases (P4, RTP1, and RTP2), while controls completed a single testing session. Repeated measures analyses were used to track mean changes in performance across rehabilitation phases, and between-group comparisons were conducted using independent samples tests. ACL-RSI scores improved significantly across phases (p = 0.001), exceeding the smallest worthwhile change (SWC), indicating progressive psychological recovery. Reactive agility improved, with faster left-side decision-making (split 2) from P4 to RTP1 (p = 0.037), while right-side agility remained stable but met the SWC threshold (1.1

BACKGROUND:Lower-limb kinematic and temporospatial differences between back-carried (BC) and non-back-carried (NBC) children are expected based on previous static lower-limb relationships reported in BC children. Back-carrying of children is common among South Africans and becoming popular among Westerners. Establishing the potential effects of back-carrying on lower-limb development and gait is therefore important. RESEARCH QUESTION:Does BC influence the tri-planar instantaneous lower-limb kinematics and temporospatial parameters of the full gait cycle in children, and is there an association between static tibial torsion and the lower-limb gait kinematics? METHODS:Twelve NBC (age = 8.00 ± 0.95 years) and 12 BC (age = 8.08 ± 0.79 years) children were selected. Tri-planar kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle were captured during gait using an eight-camera motion analysis system and Visual3D software to extract the kinematic data. All static tibial torsion were measured goniometrically. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used to compare joint kinematics during the gait cycle and the association of tibial torsion throughout the gait cycle. RESULTS:SPM revealed significant differences between BC and NBC participants in hip kinematics (mean difference = 2.49°, p = 0.016) at 52-66 % of the gait cycle and knee joint kinematics (mean difference = 3.00°, p = 0.026) at 34-41 % of the gait cycle. Temporospatial differences were non-significant for speed, stride length, stance time, and stride width (p = 0.80, gHedges = 0.10). Significant correlations were evident between static tibial torsion and joint kinematics for the knee (r = -0.44 to -0.69, p = 0.041) for BC children and for the ankle (r = 0.74-0.75, p = 0.025) in NBC children. Larger internal tibial torsion is associated with more in-toeing and internal knee rotation during the swing phase in back-carried children. SIGNIFICANCE:A discrete comparison of kinematics in BC versus NBC children did not yield significant differences, while differences were observed using the SPM. The observed differences are likely of limited clinical importance, implying that caregivers can continue to BC their children.

The 3-minute all-out exercise test (3MT) was developed over a decade ago and enables the estimation of time for onset of momentary fatigue for a given speed or power output exceeding critical speed (CS) or critical power (CP), respectively. The 3MT has been validated for conducting high-intensity interval training, used with load carriage prediction and prescription, and validated for shuttle running. These prescriptions are novel because they allow for standardizing exercise intensities relative to metabolic parameters as opposed to a percentage of a given maximum or reserve. Research was identified using leading search engines (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar, and Research Gate) and citations to similar articles. The objective of this review article was to summarize research that emerged on the CS/CP concept with emphasis on applications since the advent of the 3MT. The review concludes with application of the CS/CP concept to the frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise for exercise prescription.

ABSTRACT:Prevoo, M, Broodryk, A, and Kramer, M. Effects of a sleep hygiene intervention period on the internal and external, inter- and intra-match demands of male university-level soccer players during a tournament. J Strength Cond Res 39(6): e798-e805, 2025-Soccer is a physiologically and psychologically demanding sport, requiring players to optimize their sleep to enhance their recovery and ensure optimal performance during a match. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of a sleep hygiene intervention period (SHP) on the internal and external match demands during an 8-match tournament. Sixteen male university-level soccer players' (average age: 22.2 ± 3 years; stature: 167.6 ± 6.4 cm; mass: 62 ± 6.6 kg) movement patterns, heart rate, RPE, and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI) were compared over an intervention period consisting of 2 matches (no-sleep hygiene period: no-SHP), 4 matches (sleep-hygiene period-SHP, adhering to 10 SHP principles over 4 weeks), and again 2 matches of no-SHP. A significantly improved global PSQI score ( p = 0.03), sleep latency ( p = 0.05), and sleep hours ( p = 0.004) were seen following the SHP. Comparing the match halves of the no-SHP and SHP, significant differences were found for total distance ( p < 0.001), distances completed while jogging ( p < 0.001), running ( p < 0.001), and sprinting ( p = 0.03), as well as distances covered in the medium ( p = 0.05) and high-velocity ( p < 0.001) zones, and low ( p < 0.001) and medium ( p < 0.001) decelerative zones and for all accelerative zones ( p < 0.001). Participants were able to surpass their work rates after the SHP with no RPE increases observed, hence demonstrating the usefulness of putting organized sleep into practice. Therefore, it is recommended that players and coaching staff implement sleep hygiene guidelines more regularly, as it may result in noteworthy performance improvements.

Context: The purpose of the study was to develop normative ranges and standards for knee and shoulder isokinetic and anthropometric values. These standards can be qualitatively interpreted and allow practitioners to classify isokinetic and anthropometric values more objectively for university-level netball players. Design: Posttest only observational study design. All players were only evaluated once during the in-season to generate normative ranges. Methods: A total of 51 female players volunteered. Participants were evaluated on an isokinetic dynamometer at 60° per second to obtain knee-extensor and knee-flexor values as well as shoulder-flexor and shoulder-extensor values. A total of 16 anthropometric variables were collected including stature, body mass, 8 skinfolds, and 6 circumferences. Between-group differences were calculated to determine whether playing level was a differentiating factor in data. Results: Normative standards were developed for isokinetic parameters associated with the knee and shoulder joints as well as skinfolds and circumference measures. No statistically significant between-group differences were evident (χ2Kruskal–Wallis[2] = 3.96, P = .140). Conclusion: These standards can be used by coaches and practitioners to set attainable goals for individual players or those from secondary leagues, classify individual and team-based performances, and facilitate decision-making processes.

BackgroundWhether functionally relevant strength assessments, such as the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), can be used either bilaterally or unilaterally to evaluate and guide rehabilitation progress in those with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is under-researched. This study assessed changes in peak force (PF) and asymmetry across 3 phases for bilateral and unilateral IMTP assessments in patients with ACLR. Peak isometric force from the IMTP was compared to peak torque from isokinetic dynamometry as well as against a cohort of healthy, uninjured individuals.MethodParticipants (ACLR, n = 15) completed bilateral and unilateral IMTP assessments at weeks 12 (baseline), 16 (phase 3), and 20 (phase 4) of rehabilitation to evaluate changes in PF and asymmetry. Asymmetry was evaluated using the asymmetry angle. Isometric data from the IMTP were compared to that from an isokinetic dynamometer as well as against a cohort of healthy, uninjured participants (n = 63) allowing for a detailed analysis of limb-specific force production.ResultsThe PF during the bilateral IMTP increased for both the injured (0.94 N/kg) and uninjured (0.26 N/kg) limbs from baseline to phase 4, whereas the PF of the injured limb increased by 1.5 N/kg during the unilateral IMTP in the same time frame. Asymmetry values systematically reduced by ∼1% and ∼0.5% for the bilateral and unilateral IMTP tests from baseline to phase 4. Significant differences in PF of the injured limb were evident between those with ACLR and healthy controls across all phases (p = 0.022–0.001). The rate of progression in PF capacity was dependent on test type, amounting to 0.1 and 0.2 body weights per week for the bilateral and unilateral IMTP respectively. Small-to-large correlations (r = 0.12–0.88) were evident between IMTP PF and peak torque from the isokinetic dynamometer as well as between asymmetry metrics from both tests.ConclusionThe findings suggest that IMTP PF has potential for monitoring changes in PF and asymmetry during the ACLR rehabilitation progress. Both injured limb and uninjured limb show improvement in force-generating capacity, implying a positive adaptation to rehabilitation protocols. The findings highlight that ACLR is a unilateral injury that requires bilateral rehabilitation.

Background: Safe landing in netball is fundamental. Research on the biomechanics of multidirectional landings is lacking, especially among netball players. Furthermore, few studies reporting the associations between ankle kinematics, isokinetic ankle muscle strength, muscle activities, and injury prevalence in South African netball have been undertaken. Objectives: To determine the relationships between ankle kinematics, kinetics, isokinetic strength, and muscle activity during jump-landing tasks, as well as the prevalence of lower extremity injuries in university-level netball players during a single season. Methods: This cross-sectional repeated-measure study consisted of ten university-level female netball players. The injury prevalence data was collected during the 2022 netball season. The ankle muscle activity, kinematic, and kinetic data were collected during multidirectional single-leg landing and muscle strength was collected from plantar- and dorsiflexion trials. Results: Netball players' ankle strength was generally below average. There was evidence of negative correlations between the ankle range of motion (ROM), isokinetic strength, and muscle activity amplitudes. A lack of evidence prevented the conclusion that lower extremity dominance predisposed players to injury, and that any specific body part was more likely to be injured among netball players. Conclusion: Landing forces and muscle activity are direction-dependent, especially for the dominant limb. Lower extremity strength and neuromuscular control (NMC) across multiple jump-landing directions should be an area of focus for female netball players.