Real-time Sensorimotor Feedback for Injury Prevention Assessed in Virtual Reality

Study Summary

Traumatic, debilitating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur at a 2 to 10-fold greater rate in female than male athletes. Consequently, there is a larger population of females that endure significant pain, functional limitations, and radiographic signs of knee osteoarthritis (OA) within 12 to 20 years following injury. To reduce the burden of OA, The National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis recommends expanding and refining evidence-based prevention of ACL injury. Specialized training that targets modifiable risk factors shows statistical efficacy in high-risk athletes; however, clinically meaningful reduction of risk has not been achieved. A critical barrier that limits successful training outcomes is the requirement of qualified instructors to deliver personalized, intuitive, and accessible feedback to young athletes. Thus, a key gap in knowledge is how to efficiently deliver objective, effective feedback during training for injury prevention. The investigators long-term goal is to reduce ACL injuries and the subsequent sequela in young female athletes. The overall objective of this proposal is to implement and test innovative augmented neuromuscular training (aNMT) techniques to enhance sensorimotor learning and reduce biomechanical risk factors for ACL injury. The rationale that underlies this proposal is that, after completion, the investigators will be equipped to more effectively deliver biofeedback and decelerate the trend of increasing ACL injury rates in female athletes. This contribution will be significant for the reduction of the long-term sequel following ACL injury in young females.

Primary Outcome

Lateral trunk flexion during the vertical drop task will be compared between study arms. Optimal lateral trunk flexion is 0°.

Interventions

• OTHER Neuromuscular Training
• OTHER aNMT Biofeedback
• OTHER Sham Biofeedback