Jump-landing kinetic asymmetries persisted despite symmetric squat kinetics in collegiate athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The purpose was to determine the differences/correlations in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) loading variables and bilateral asymmetries between injured/uninjured legs and among ascending/descending phases of double-leg squats and jumping/landing phases of countermovement jumps (CMJ) in the collegiate athletes following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Fourteen collegiate athletes performed squats and CMJ 6-14 months following ACLR. The bilateral knee/hip flexion angles, peak vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and knee extension moments (KEM), and kinetic asymmetries were calculated. Squats showed the greatest knee/hip flexion angles, while the landing phase of CMJ showed the least (P<0.001). The uninjured leg demonstrated greater VGRF (P <= 0.010) and KEM (P <= 0.008) than the injured leg in CMJ. Kinetic asymmetries were less than 10% for squats but were greater for the jumping (P <= 0.014, 12%-25%) and landing (P <= 0.047, 16%-27%) phases of CMJ. Significant correlations were found for KEM asymmetries between phases of CMJ (P=0.050) and squats (P<0.001). Kinetic asymmetries persisted in CMJ, while kinetic symmetries were achieved in squats in collegiate athletes 6-14 months following ACLR. Therefore, the CMJ appears to be a more sensitive assessment to monitor the bilateral kinetic asymmetries compared to squats. It is suggested to assess and screen kinetic asymmetries in different phases and tasks.