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Sex Differences in Landing Biomechanics and Postural Stability During Adolescence: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses

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Abstract

Background

The adolescent ‘growth spurt’ results in rapid growth of the skeletal system. It has been theorised that absence of a concomitant increase in muscular adaptations in female athletes may predispose them to an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Objectives

To determine if sex differences exist in landing biomechanics and postural stability of adolescent athletes; with a further objective of determining if such differences are propagated during adolescence.

Data sources

The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science. Research papers were identified by including search terms for neuromuscular control, lower limb and pubertal development.

Inclusion Criteria

Studies were required to be written in English; report on biomechanical analyses; include landing or postural control tasks; be cross-sectional or longitudinal; and include healthy adolescent/pubertal subjects.

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods

A modified version of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology checklist was used to rate methodological quality. Meta-analyses were performed when more than one study reported on an outcome measure.

Results

Sixteen articles were included. The overall methodological quality of evaluated studies was low (mean score = 5.75/10 points). Adolescent females exhibited increased knee valgus with increasing maturity. There was no consensus on sex differences in postural stability.

Conclusions

With increasing maturation, females are characterized by increased knee valgus during landing tasks. To date, no research has longitudinally investigated postural stability development during adolescence in females, despite the importance of postural control training in injury prevention programmes. Therefore, further research on this topic is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Health Sciences Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Sinéad Holden, Colin Boreham & Eamonn Delahunt

  2. Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Colin Boreham & Eamonn Delahunt

Authors
  1. Sinéad Holden
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  2. Colin Boreham
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Correspondence to Sinéad Holden.

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Funding

Sinéad Holden was funded for this work by the Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology’s Embark Postgraduate Scholarship scheme. No other sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this article.

Conflicts of interest

Sinéad Holden, Colin Boreham and Eamonn Delahunt declare that they have no real or perceived conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this review.

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Holden, S., Boreham, C. & Delahunt, E. Sex Differences in Landing Biomechanics and Postural Stability During Adolescence: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses. Sports Med 46, 241–253 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0416-6

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