The effectiveness of the STOP-X training program on the knee valgus angle and balance in female basketball players with dynamic knee valgus

Abstract

Abstract Background: Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) accompanied by poor balance is the cause of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes, and the identification and correction of these factors are always of interest to researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of the STOP-X program on the knee valgus angle and on static and dynamic balance in female basketball players with DKV defects. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study. The samples of this research included 30 female basketball players with DKV defects who were purposefully selected from the statistical population of female basketball players and were randomly assigned to two control (n=15) and experimental (n=15) groups. Dynamic knee valgus status was evaluated with the single-leg landing (SLL) test, static balance status was evaluated with the BASS STICK test, and dynamic balance status was evaluated with the Y-balance test (YBT). As a warm-up program, the experimental group performed the STOP-X program for 25-40 minutes for eight weeks (three times per week), and the control group performed their traditional warm-up program. The data were analyzed by ANCOVA and paired-samples t tests with SPSS version 26. Results: The results showed that with the use of the STOP-X program, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of the knee valgus angle (η2=0.72, P=0.001), static balance (η2=0.47, P=0.001), and total dynamic balance score (η2 = 0.74, P = 0.001). Therefore, the experimental group performed better than the control group. Conclusion: In addition to reducing the knee valgus angle, applying STOP-X preventive warm-up exercises can improve static and dynamic balance in female basketball players with DKV defects. Therefore, it can be recommended that sports trainers benefit from these advantages by substituting STOP-X preventive exercises instead of traditional warm-up.