"Sit like a lady": Gender-related sociocultural constructs and implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in active women.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between sociocultural factors and three-dimensional (3D) hip and knee kinematics during low- and high-impact tasks (LIT, HIT).

METHODS

Eighteen active cis-gender females/women between 18 and 30 years completed three trials of bilateral and single-leg LIT and HIT. Hip and knee kinematic data were recorded and analysed. Gender Role Socialization (GRSS) and Trait Self-Objectification Scales (TSOS) assessed sociocultural factors. The association between 3D kinematics and sociocultural factors was explored during LIT and HIT.

RESULTS

Scores on the TSOS demonstrated: (1) a moderate positive correlation with non-dominant frontal plane hip kinematics during the single-leg stand-to-sit task (Spearman ρ = 0.48, p =.043); (2) a moderate negative correlation with dominant hip frontal plane kinematics during the drop vertical jump (Spearman ρ = -0.52, p =.027); and (3) a moderate negative correlation with non-dominant knee transverse plane hip kinematics during the stand-to-sit transition (Spearman ρ = -0.52, p =.024). There were no significant correlations between GRSS and 3D hip or knee kinematics during LIT or HIT (p >.05).

CONCLUSION

The TSOS correlated moderately with 3D hip and knee kinematics during LIT and HIT. These kinematic findings support the previously identified position of no return at the time of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Clinical ramifications may include the need to incorporate self-objectification screening or inclusion in injury risk mitigation. Future research should continue to explore the role of other sociocultural factors and their influence on ACL injury risk in females/women, using updated assessment methods.