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NCT Number: NCT07314931

The Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Knee Biomechanics During Jump-Landing Among College Basketball Players Post ACL Reconstruction and Rehabilitation

Basketball players often injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a key structure that stabilizes the knee. Even after surgery and standard rehabilitation, many athletes continue to have problems with knee stability, movement control, and performance during jumping and landing. These issues increase the risk of re-injury and can limit their ability to return to competition.

Neuromuscular training (NMT) is a type of exercise program that focuses on improving balance, muscle coordination, and movement patterns. It uses activities such as jump-landing drills, balance tasks, agility exercises, and core training. Previous research shows that NMT can help athletes land more safely, reduce harmful knee movements, and improve sport performance. However, little is known about its long-term benefits in college basketball players who are more than one year post-ACL surgery.

This study aims to evaluate whether a 12-week NMT program, added to standard basketball training, can improve knee biomechanics, stability, and performance in college basketball players with a history of ACL reconstruction. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned to either an NMT group or a control group. Both groups will complete basketball training, but only the NMT group will receive the additional neuromuscular exercises.

Knee movement will be measured using 3D motion capture and force plates, and performance will be tested through vertical jumps and other sport-specific tasks. The main outcomes will include knee angles during landing, ground reaction forces, dynamic stability, and jump height.

The expected outcome is that athletes who undergo NMT will demonstrate safer landing strategies, better knee control, and improved performance compared to those who only receive standard basketball training. These findings may help coaches and healthcare providers design safer, more effective rehabilitation programs for athletes after ACL surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Rehabilitation Athletic Performance Basketball Players Biomechanical Data Knee Injuries Leg Injuries Neuromuscular Training Physical Fitness Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Male college basketball players

Age 18-25 years

History of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery at least 12 months before enrollment

Cleared by physician for sports participation

Willing to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures

Exclusion criteria

Previous ACL injury on the contralateral knee

Other major lower-limb injuries (e.g., meniscus, cartilage, fractures) in the past 12 months

Current knee pain, swelling, or instability that prevents safe participation

Neurological, cardiovascular, or systemic conditions that may affect training safety

Participation in another structured neuromuscular training program within the past 6 months

Treatment and study plan

Neuromuscular Training (NMT)

Behavioral

The neuromuscular training (NMT) program is a 12-week behavioral intervention performed 2-3 times per week in addition to regular basketball training. It includes balance tasks, jump-landing drills, agility exercises, and core strengthening to improve knee stability and movement control after ACL reconstruction

Primary outcomes

  1. Peak knee valgus angle during single-leg jump-landing (degrees)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Knee valgus angle will be measured using 3D motion capture during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The primary endpoint is the peak knee valgus angle (°) during the landing phase, averaged across 3 successful trials.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time to stabilization after landing (seconds)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Dynamic postural stability will be evaluated using force platform data during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is time to stabilization (TTS, s) following landing, averaged across 3 successful trials.

  2. Center of pressure displacement after landing, medial-lateral (millimeters)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Center of pressure (COP) displacement will be quantified from force platform data during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction (mm), averaged across 3 successful trials.

  3. Peak knee flexion angle during single-leg jump-landing (degrees)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Peak knee flexion angle during the landing phase will be measured using 3D motion capture during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is the peak knee flexion angle (°), averaged across 3 successful trials.

  4. Center of pressure displacement after landing, anterior-posterior (millimeters)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Center of pressure (COP) displacement will be quantified from force platform data during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is COP displacement in the anterior-posterior direction (mm), averaged across 3 successful trials.

  5. Countermovement jump height (centimeters)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Explosive lower-limb power will be assessed using a countermovement jump (CMJ) on a force platform. The endpoint is jump height (cm) calculated from flight time, averaged across 3 successful trials.

  6. Squat jump height (centimeters)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Explosive lower-limb power will be assessed using a squat jump (SJ) on a force platform. The endpoint is jump height (cm) calculated from flight time, averaged across 3 successful trials.

  7. Knee flexion angle at initial contact during single-leg jump-landing (degrees)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Knee flexion angle at initial ground contact will be measured using 3D motion capture during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is the knee flexion angle at initial contact (°), averaged across 3 successful trials.

  8. Peak vertical ground reaction force during single-leg jump-landing (Newtons)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and 12 weeks (post-intervention)

    Vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) will be measured using force platforms during a standardized single-leg jump-landing task. The endpoint is peak vGRF (N) during landing, averaged across 3 successful trials.

Other outcomes

  1. Percentage of prescribed neuromuscular training (NMT) sessions completed

    Time frame: Throughout the 12-week intervention period

    Adherence will be assessed as the percentage of prescribed NMT sessions completed over the 12-week intervention period. A session will be considered completed if the participant attends and completes the full planned session.

  2. Number of participants with ≥1 intervention-related adverse event

    Time frame: Throughout the 12-week intervention period

    Safety will be assessed as the number of participants with ≥1 intervention-related adverse event during the 12-week intervention period.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

JINFA GU, PhD candidate

CONTACT

[email protected]

+60 111232 608 ext. +86 1560001310

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 2, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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