Differences in Thigh Muscle Activation Between Standing and Landing Exercises for Knee Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation.
Jesper Bencke, Mark Strøm, Derek J Curtis and 2 others
PMID 36793578WHAT IT FOUND
In 20 healthy adults, single-leg landings produced the highest hamstring activation, and BOSU raised activation more than Airex.
This describes exercise demands, not proven injury prevention.
Key findings
01Hamstring activation increased from single-leg stance to single-leg squat and from single-leg squat to single-leg landing.
02BOSU produced higher hamstring activation than Airex, while floor and Airex did not differ.
03Female participants showed a larger increase in semitendinosus activation from squat to landing than male participants, especially on BOSU.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 20 healthy adults, so it cannot show what happens in injured patients or in larger populations. It measured short bursts of muscle activation during tasks, not injury prevention, strength gains, or long-term knee outcomes. The sample was a convenience group of physically active young adults, so results may not apply to highly trained athletes, adolescents, or people in early ACL rehabilitation. The design was exploratory and had no power calculation, so sex differences and small activation changes should be read cautiously. BOSU and Airex may not be available in all settings, and unstable surfaces may be too challenging early in rehabilitation.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these exercises prevent ACL injury or increase hamstring strength. The study measured short bursts of muscle activation in 20 healthy adults, not injury outcomes or long-term strength.