ABSTRACT
<p>Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most severe knee problems for female athletes. Several studies have reported that the decreased lower limb control of women such as decrease of hip abductions muscle strength increase the risk of ACL injury. Also ACL Injury often occurs as a result of knee valgus collapse during single leg landing or pivoting in sports activities like basketball. Female basketball players often show an excessive knee valgus and hip adduction during the play. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of hip abductions muscle strength on knee alignment during a single leg landing. Thirty healthy female basketball players participated in this study. Mean age, height, body weight and plyer career were 17.3 years old±3.7, 162.7cm±17.2, 56.2kg±10.9, 8.9 years±3.8 respectively. All subjects were obtained written consent from after explanation of the procedure. Significant negative correlations showed that greater hip abductor peak torque (hip flexion 0 and 30degrees) exhibited less motion toward the knee valgus direction during single leg landing. And also, dynamic Trendelenburg test showed that all positive reactions cause knee valgus direction. These results suggest keeping proper knee position safety during single leg landing; female basketball player should improve the hip abductions muscle strength. Hip joint control will be a major issue for prevention of the non-contact ACL injury.</p>