INFLUENCE OF FOOT POSITION ON KNEE VALGUS DURING FEINTING IN TEAM HANDBALL

Purpose: To determine whether performing a feint in team handball with a wide foot stance leads to a greater knee valgus angle and/or knee valgus moment. Methods: Eight women handball players performed a feint with 4 different foot stances (free and 30%, 40%, and 50% of their body height). Three-dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces were measured during the feints. Hip abduction angle at first contact, peak vertical ground reaction force, peak knee valgus angle, and peak external knee valgus moment during the first 20% of the feint cycle were compared among the stances at 30%, 40%, and 50% of body height (ANOVA, P<0.05). In the free feint, we investigated intrasubject correlations among foot stance and hip abduction angle at first contact, peak knee valgus angle, and peak external knee valgus moment were then conducted (P<0.05). Results: When performing a feint with foot stances at 40% and 50% of body height, the subjects had significantly greater peak external knee valgus moment. Hip abduction angle at first contact was significantly correlated to peak knee valgus angle and peak external knee valgus moment. Conclusion: Training athletes to avoid wide foot stance and large hip abduction angle may reduce the risk of sustaining noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries. (Jpn. J. Phys. Fitness Sports Med. 2009, 58 : 537 similar to 544)