Single leg squat test and its relationship to dynamic knee valgus and injury risk screening

Abstract

Background: Lower extremity injuries are common in athletes. Valid tests to assess for risk of injury that are easily performed during a preparticipation sports physical examination are lacking. Two-dimensional (2D) analysis of the drop-jump test can identify athletes at risk, but it is too expensive and cumbersome to use in this setting.

Objective: To identify if those who perform a "positive"(abnormal postures) single leg squat (SLS) test also exhibit greater "dynamic valgus" on the 2D drop-jump test. Our secondary purpose was to assess whether group differences in gender, age, or body mass index are evident between those who exhibit a positive SLS test result versus a negative SLS test result. Also, we wanted to determine any gender differences with the 2D drop-jump test.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Private practice, preparticipation sports physical examinations.

Participants: A total of 142 middle school and high school athletes.

Methods: Participants performed a SLS test and a drop-jump test during their preparticipation sports physical examination. Individuals were partitioned into groups based on the outcome of their SLS test (positive SLS group versus negative SLS group). Independent sample t-tests were used to evaluate SLS group differences in the drop-jump test, age, and body mass index, and the χ(2) test was used to evaluate SLS group differences in gender (P ≤ .05).

Main outcome measurements: The SLS test and drop-jump test.

Results: Seventy-three of the 142 athletes (51%) had a positive SLS test result, whereas 69 athletes (49%) had a negative SLS test result. Individuals in the positive SLS group had a significantly lower knee-hip ratio), indicative of greater dynamic knee valgus, than did those in the negative SLS group (P = .02). Individual characteristics between SLS groups including gender, age, and body mass index were similar.

Conclusion: The SLS test is a reasonable tool to use in preparticipation sports physical examinations to assess for dynamic knee valgus and the potential risk of lower extremity injury.