Influence of anticipation and motor-motor task performance on cutting biomechanics in healthy men

Abstract

Context: Biomechanical analyses of cutting tasks have demonstrated kinematic differences associated with the noncontact knee-injury risk when the movement direction is unanticipated. Motor-motor dual tasks occur within dynamic environments and change the demand for attentional resources needed to complete athletic maneuvers, which may contribute to injury risk. Objective: To investigate the influence of anticipation and motor-motor task performance on cutting biomechanics. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 32 healthy, recreationally active men (age ¼ 23.1 6 3.6 years, height ¼ 180.0 6 7.0 cm, mass ¼ 81.3 6 17.3 kg) who self-reported regular participation in cutting sports. Intervention(s): Participants performed a 458 side-step cut on the dominant limb in a random order of conditions: anticipation (anticipated, unanticipated) and task (no ball throw, ball fake, ball throw). Main Outcome Measure(s): Triplanar trunk, hip, and knee angles were assessed throughout the stance phase using 3-dimensional motion capture. Data were analyzed using a time series of means calculated from initial contact to toe-off (0%-100%) with 90% confidence intervals. Mean differences between conditions were identified as regions of nonoverlapping confidence intervals, and those that occurred during the region of peak vertical ground reaction force (0%-25%) are presented. Results: Regardless of anticipation, attending to a ball (ball throw) resulted in more trunk extension (range ¼ 2.98-3.78) and less lateral trunk flexion toward the cutting direction (range ¼ 5.28-5.98). Planning to attend to a ball (ball fake) resulted in less lateral trunk flexion toward the cutting direction (4.78). During unanticipated cutting, more trunk rotation away from the cutting direction was observed when attending to a ball (range ¼ 5.38-7.18). The interaction of anticipation and task had a similar influence on sagittal- and frontal-plane trunk position. Conclusions: Motor-motor task performance and its interaction with anticipation induced an upright, neutral trunk position during side-step cutting, which has been associated with the risk for noncontact knee injury. Promoting task complexity during rehabilitation and injury-prevention programs may better prepare individuals to succeed when performing high-risk athletic maneuvers.