Basketball players often injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a key structure that stabilizes the knee. Even after surgery and standard rehabilitation, many athletes continue to have problems with knee stability, movement control, and performance during jumping and landing. These issues increase the risk of re-injury and can limit their ability to return to competition.
Neuromuscular training (NMT) is a type of exercise program that focuses on improving balance, muscle coordination, and movement patterns. It uses activities such as jump-landing drills, balance tasks, agility exercises, and core training. Previous research shows that NMT can help athletes land more safely, reduce harmful knee movements, and improve sport performance. However, little is known about its long-term benefits in college basketball players who are more than one year post-ACL surgery.
This study aims to evaluate whether a 12-week NMT program, added to standard basketball training, can improve knee biomechanics, stability, and performance in college basketball players with a history of ACL reconstruction. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to either an NMT group or a control group. Both groups will complete basketball training, but only the NMT group will receive the additional neuromuscular exercises.
Knee movement will be measured using 3D motion capture and force plates, and performance will be tested through vertical jumps and other sport-specific tasks. The main outcomes will include knee angles during landing, ground reaction forces, dynamic stability, and jump height.
The expected outcome is that athletes who undergo NMT will demonstrate safer landing strategies, better knee control, and improved performance compared to those who only receive standard basketball training. These findings may help coaches and healthcare providers design safer, more effective rehabilitation programs for athletes after ACL surgery.
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Factorial
Neuromuscular Training (NMT)
BehavioralThe neuromuscular training (NMT) program is a 12-week behavioral intervention performed 2-3 times per week in addition to regular basketball training. It includes balance tasks, jump-landing drills, agility exercises, and core strengthening to improve knee stability and movement control after ACL reconstruction
Peak knee valgus angle during single-leg jump-landing (degrees)
Knee valgus angle will be measured using 3D motion capture during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The primary endpoint is the peak knee valgus angle (°) during the landing phase, averaged across 3 successful trials.
Time to stabilization after landing (seconds)
Dynamic postural stability will be evaluated using force platform data during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is time to stabilization (TTS, s) following landing, averaged across 3 successful trials.
Center of pressure displacement after landing, medial-lateral (millimeters)
Center of pressure (COP) displacement will be quantified from force platform data during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction (mm), averaged across 3 successful trials.
Peak knee flexion angle during single-leg jump-landing (degrees)
Peak knee flexion angle during the landing phase will be measured using 3D motion capture during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is the peak knee flexion angle (°), averaged across 3 successful trials.
Center of pressure displacement after landing, anterior-posterior (millimeters)
Center of pressure (COP) displacement will be quantified from force platform data during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is COP displacement in the anterior-posterior direction (mm), averaged across 3 successful trials.
Percentage of prescribed neuromuscular training (NMT) sessions completed
Adherence will be assessed as the percentage of prescribed NMT sessions completed over the 12-week intervention period. A session will be considered completed if the participant attends and completes the full planned session.
Number of participants with ≥1 intervention-related adverse event
Safety will be assessed as the number of participants with ≥1 intervention-related adverse event during the 12-week intervention period.
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