“Sit like a lady”: Gender-related sociocultural constructs and implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in active women

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between sociocultural factors and three-dimensional (3D) hip and knee kinematics during low- and high-impact tasks (LIT, HIT). Methods: Eighteen active cis-gender females/women between 18 and 30 years completed three trials of bilateral and single-leg LIT and HIT. Hip and knee kinematic data were recorded and analysed. Gender Role Socialization (GRSS) and Trait Self-Objectification Scales (TSOS) assessed sociocultural factors. The association between 3D kinematics and sociocultural factors was explored during LIT and HIT. Results: Scores on the TSOS demonstrated: (1) a moderate positive correlation with non-dominant frontal plane hip kinematics during the single-leg stand-to-sit task (Spearman ρ = 0.48, p =.043); (2) a moderate negative correlation with dominant hip frontal plane kinematics during the drop vertical jump (Spearman ρ = -0.52, p =.027); and (3) a moderate negative correlation with non-dominant knee transverse plane hip kinematics during the stand-to-sit transition (Spearman ρ = -0.52, p =.024). There were no significant correlations between GRSS and 3D hip or knee kinematics during LIT or HIT (p >.05). Conclusion: The TSOS correlated moderately with 3D hip and knee kinematics during LIT and HIT. These kinematic findings support the previously identified position of no return at the time of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Clinical ramifications may include the need to incorporate self-objectification screening or inclusion in injury risk mitigation. Future research should continue to explore the role of other sociocultural factors and their influence on ACL injury risk in females/women, using updated assessment methods.