The Effect of Eight Weeks of Neuromuscular Training on Balance and Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury in Boy Adolescent Taekwondo Athletes

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACL) is the most common knee ligament injury. In addition to the high cost of treatment, it causes loss of athletic participation, and tend to secondary damages. Deficiency balance is one of the most important causes of this injury, so balance improvement can prevents it. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of neuromuscular training on balance and prevention of ACL injury in boy adolescent taekwondo players.Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven boy adolescent taekwondo players participated in this study voluntarily. They were divided into two groups of experimental (n = ۱۵) and control (n = ۱۲). The experimental group performed neuromuscular training sessions of ۳۰-۴۵ minutes, three times per week, for ۸ weeks, and in the rest of the time (up to ۹۰ minutes), they performed usual taekwondo trainings. The control group only practiced usual taekwondo trainings for ۹۰ minutes. Static and dynamic balance was measured using the Biodex balance system before and after applying the neuromuscular training protocol. The comparison of the groups was done using the ANCOVA statistical method at a significant level of P < ۰.۰۵۰.Results: There were significant differences in the static balance index (P = ۰.۰۰۱) and all of the dynamic static balance indexes [posterior-anterior index (P = ۰.۰۰۱), external-internal index (P = ۰.۰۰۱), and general index (P = ۰.۰۰۱)] between the groups after performing neuromuscular training.Conclusion: It can be suggested that, neuromuscular training have a positive effect on the balance in boy adolescent taekwondo players, and may prevent ACL injury.

Keywords:

Anterior cruciate ligament , Postural balance , Knee joint , Exercise