THE EFFECT OF DRIBBLING ON KNEE LOADING WHEN FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS PERFORM SIDE STEP CUTTING MANEUVERS

Knee injuries in females seem related to movements during sports specific, high risk activities such as cutting. Loading on knee when the players make side step cutting maneuvers has been considered to be a factor related to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries. Our purpose was to examine differences in female players performing a side step cutting with and without dribbling. Using 10 elite female basketball players, three dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were assessed. Based on our investigation, elite female basketball players performing a side step cut with dribbling exhibited greater knee valgus angles and moments. Sport-specific neuromuscular training programs for basketball players could consider may adding ball control tasks.