Objective: To examine the kinematic and kinetic differences during functional movements between youth and young adults with a history of intra-articular knee injury and age, sex, and sport matched controls.
Methods: In total, 186 youth/young adults (age 15-26; 100 female, 86 male; 93 matched pairs) attended a testing session in which kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a motion capture camera system and two force platforms. Joint angles and moments for the ankle, knee, hip, and trunk were calculated and between-group differences were analyzed.
Results: No group differences were observed for either males or females in the primary outcomes (knee abduction/adduction angle, knee abduction/adduction moment) in either the vertical drop jump or single leg squat. Group differences were observed for the females during the vertical drop jump in the hip abduction moment on the index limb and the knee valgus angle, knee abduction moment, and hip external rotation angle on the non-index limb; during the single leg squat in the hip adduction angle on the index limb and the knee flexion angle on the nonindex limb.
Conclusions: Previously injured female participants demonstrate some kinematic and kinetic differences in functional movements 3-10 years following an intra-articular knee joint injury.