Researchers studied 265 females and 50 males over a period of one year to determine active joint stiffness of the ankle, knee and hip during a drop vertical jump. Researchers calculated the stiffness as the slope of the moment-angle curve from a least squares linear regression during the stance phase.
The study found that both genders experienced an increase in active knee stiffness during the year’s time. The male patients experienced an increase in ankle and hip pain as well, possibly due to the greater external hip flexion magnitude in males.
Read the abstract for “Longitudinal Effects of Maturation on Lower Extremity Joint Stiffness in Adolescent Athletes.”
Read other coverage on sports medicine studies:
– ER Visits for Young Athletes With Concussions Increase
– Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair More Effective Than Meniscectomy for Isolated Traumatic Meniscal Tears
– Gender-Specific Knee Implants May Not Benefit All Women
