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Biomechanical investigation of anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in pivoting leg during taekwondo kicks using motion analysis system

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Abstract

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is part of the knee joint injured during taekwondo kicking. However, few studies have investigated the ACL injury mechanism and its inherent risk factors. In this study, we compared the knee joint kinematics in the pivoting leg during eight typical taekwondo kicks (back, roundhouse, turning-back, hook, side, push, axe, and front kicks) to investigate the possible risk of ACL injury. Standard inverse dynamics analyses were used to calculate axial tibial rotation and knee joint varus-valgus moment using a musculoskeletal model of the lower extremity and a motion analysis system with six high-speed digital cameras and a force plate. The maximum values of internal tibial rotation and valgus moment in the pivot leg were investigated. In addition, the time interval when the internal rotation and/or valgus moment exceeded the upper limit of the safe region during the kicking was analyzed. The results revealed that most kicks had time intervals of excessive amounts of internal tibial rotation and/or knee valgus moment, which are related to the risk of ACL injury. Moreover, one particular kicking motion, the hook kick, has a relatively high ACL injury risk in the pivot leg compared to other kicking motions. We suggest that athletes and coaches be aware of these risky kicks.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (NRF-2017R1A2B1010492). The authors also thank Ariunzaya Dorj for assistance with data collection and analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Mathematics, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, Korea

    Kyungsoo Kim

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, Korea

    Bayasgalan Davaasambuu, Ruoyu Wei & Yoon Hyuk Kim

  3. Integrated Education Institute for Frontier Science and Technology (BK21 Four), Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 17104, Korea

    Yoon Hyuk Kim

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  1. Kyungsoo Kim
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  2. Bayasgalan Davaasambuu
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Correspondence to Yoon Hyuk Kim.

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Yoon Hyuk Kim received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in 1992, 1994, and 2000, respectively. He is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Integrated Education Institute for Frontier Science & Technology (BK21 Four), Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea. His research interests include biomechanical and biomedical engineering.

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Kim, K., Davaasambuu, B., Wei, R. et al. Biomechanical investigation of anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in pivoting leg during taekwondo kicks using motion analysis system. J Mech Sci Technol 36, 1051–1056 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-0150-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-022-0150-6

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