Brief summary, from the abstract
In a large cohort of elite female handball and football players, 2D video screening of frontal plane knee and hip control during single-leg squats and vertical drop jumps did not predict who would go on to tear their ACL, so the so-called kissing knees pattern should not be used to flag at-risk athletes.
- 880 athletes (429 handball, 451 football, mean age 21.5 +/- 4.0 years) were screened and followed; 56 sustained a non-contact ACL injury and 722 stayed uninjured.
- None of the measured frontal plane variables (lateral pelvic tilt, knee projection angle, medial knee position, side-to-side asymmetry) distinguished injured from uninjured players (all p > .05, Cohen's d < .27).
- The authors conclude this screening cannot identify increased ACL risk and should not be used for that purpose.
- Prospective cohort with sizeable numbers, though the small effect sizes reflect a near-total absence of any association rather than an underpowered result.
Clinically assessing this area? See the knee special tests.