Comparative analysis of sport-specific assessments for biomechanical assessment: Identifying complementary assessments to the drop vertical jump in evaluating ACL injury risk

Background Sport-specific assessments are commonly used to evaluate anterior cruciate ligament injury, yet it remains uncertain which assessments most effectively detect clinically meaningful biomechanical deficits. The primary objective aimed to highlight sport-specific assessments capable of replicating the drop vertical jump in detecting movement deficits. The secondary objective compared knee kinematics across sexes and between healthy and those who had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods Data were collected from 20 healthy and 20 participants who had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee flexion and adduction angles were measured during a drop vertical jump, tuck jump assessment, single-leg squat and hop using a motion capture system. Statistical analyses utilized Pearson's correlation coefficient and two-way ANOVA with effect sizes (d). Findings There was significant correlation (Pearson's r = 0.502 to 0.808) between the drop vertical jump and unilateral assessments for knee flexion and between all assessments for knee adduction. Significant sex effects were observed during the drop vertical jump, single-leg squat, and single-leg hop ( d = 0.61 to 1.50), and for knee adduction during the drop vertical jump, tuck jump, and single-leg hop ( d = 0.47 to 3.07). Significant ACL status effects were observed for knee adduction during the drop vertical jump and single-leg squat ( d = 0.21 to 1.61). Interpretation Expanding on the drop vertical jump's prognostic ability, the significant correlation, coupled with the unilateral assessments sensitivity in revealing aberrant movements, suggests the latter may possess comparative efficacy in identifying movement deficits.