Impact of valgus control Instruction exercise on dynamic knee valgus and functional performance in Female badminton players

Badminton is a popular, fast-paced racket sport that involves high-intensity, intermittent actions. Players perform various movements, such as jumps, lunges, quick direction changes, and rapid arm swings. Lower extremity injuries are common in badminton mostly occurring during jump landings in lateral or posterolateral directions. The most common action is landing on one foot after an overhead stroke on the backhand side. Most ACL injuries happen due the impact of landing. Females are anatomically predisposed to higher risk due to wider hips, which result in larger Q-angles, and weaker hip abductors, leading to dynamic knee valgus. A higher incidence is due to factors during impact, such as lower knee flexion, higher extension torque, and increased knee valgus angles. Dynamic knee valgus, a key risk factor, places significant tensile forces on the ACL, especially during landing and cutting. A large valgus angle during landing increases ACL injury risk by adding pressure on the ligament. Knee valgus is also associated with patellofemoral joint injuries and abnormal patellar tendon loading. Ideal knee valgus angles are 5-12° for females with an increased frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) indicating greater knee valgus loading.