Purpose: This study aimed to generate models predicting Ground Reaction Forces (GRFs), an established predictor of ACL injury incidence, from practical functional and clinical tests. Participants: Forty-two healthy, active college age individuals (21 females, age 20.667±1.461; 70.702±2.363cm; 82.202±7.606kg; 21 males, age 21.571±1.28; 65.524±1.874cm; 64.190±9.059kg) participated.
Methods and Materials: After assuring all participants met inclusion criteria and provided consent, lower extremity (LE) dominance was determined with drop landings. Individuals then had Fat Free Mass [FFM] determined from skinfolds, ankle joint dorsiflexion passive range of motion taken with a standard goniometer [DPROM], and performed the overhead deep squat test [ODS]. A warm-up on a bicycle ergometer then preceded determination of vertical [GRFz] and posterior ground reaction forces [GRFy] with five, signal-averaged LE drop landings from 35cm height onto a forceplate. Participants then performed the following tests in a counterbalanced order: Margaria-Kalamen [MK], Single Leg Triple Hop [SLTH], isometric peak force for lateral hip rotation [HipLR], knee flexion and knee extension. The knee flexion and extension peak force data was used to calculate a flexion:extension peak force ratio [H:Q] while GRFz and GRFy values were normalized to the participant’s FFM [nGRFz and nGRFy]. Stepwise linear regression models to predict the GRFs were calculated using FFM, DPROM, ODS, MK, SLTH, HipLR, H:Q and sex as the predictors. Alpha levels for all analyses were set a-priori at P≤ .05.
Results: Step-wise linear regression analysis indicated that a significant nGRFz model occurred utilizing all independent variables (Adjusted R2= .197, P= .048), but was most parsimonious with only SLTH and DPROM as predictor variables (Adjusted R2= .274; P=.001). Use of all eight-predictor variables for nGRFy also resulted in a statistically significant result (P= .001) but the most parsimonious model occurred with only H:Q, FFM and DPROM (Adjusted R2= .476; P< .001).
Conclusions: Two models significantly predicted GRFs from practical clinical measures and functional tests. One model predicted vertical ground reaction force from SLTH and DPROM, while one model predicted nGRFy from H:Q, FFM and DPROM. Clinical Relevance: If validated, a practical method of predicting nGRFy would be available to identify those at elevated ACL injury risk.
","abstract_html":"<p>Purpose: This study aimed to generate models predicting Ground Reaction Forces (GRFs), an established predictor of ACL injury incidence, from practical functional and clinical tests. Participants: Forty-two healthy, active college age individuals (21 females, age 20.667±1.461; 70.702±2.363cm; 82.202±7.606kg; 21 males, age 21.571±1.28; 65.524±1.874cm; 64.190±9.059kg) participated.</p> <p>Methods and Materials: After assuring all participants met inclusion criteria and provided consent, lower extremity (LE) dominance was determined with drop landings. Individuals then had Fat Free Mass [FFM] determined from skinfolds, ankle joint dorsiflexion passive range of motion taken with a standard goniometer [DPROM], and performed the overhead deep squat test [ODS]. A warm-up on a bicycle ergometer then preceded determination of vertical [GRFz] and posterior ground reaction forces [GRFy] with five, signal-averaged LE drop landings from 35cm height onto a forceplate. Participants then performed the following tests in a counterbalanced order: Margaria-Kalamen [MK], Single Leg Triple Hop [SLTH], isometric peak force for lateral hip rotation [HipLR], knee flexion and knee extension. The knee flexion and extension peak force data was used to calculate a flexion:extension peak force ratio [H:Q] while GRFz and GRFy values were normalized to the participant’s FFM [nGRFz and nGRFy]. Stepwise linear regression models to predict the GRFs were calculated using FFM, DPROM, ODS, MK, SLTH, HipLR, H:Q and sex as the predictors. Alpha levels for all analyses were set a-priori at P≤ .05.</p> <p>Results: Step-wise linear regression analysis indicated that a significant nGRFz model occurred utilizing all independent variables (Adjusted R2= .197, P= .048), but was most parsimonious with only SLTH and DPROM as predictor variables (Adjusted R2= .274; P=.001). Use of all eight-predictor variables for nGRFy also resulted in a statistically significant result (P= .001) but the most parsimonious model occurred with only H:Q, FFM and DPROM (Adjusted R2= .476; P< .001).</p> <p>Conclusions: Two models significantly predicted GRFs from practical clinical measures and functional tests. One model predicted vertical ground reaction force from SLTH and DPROM, while one model predicted nGRFy from H:Q, FFM and DPROM. Clinical Relevance: If validated, a practical method of predicting nGRFy would be available to identify those at elevated ACL injury risk.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Cacolice, Paul"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"PhD","degree_level":"One-year Embargo","degree_discipline":"Rehabilitation Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Christopher Carcia","Jason Scibek","Amy Phelps"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-08-08T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-08-08T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:10:50Z","subjects":["Anterior Cruciate Ligament","Dorsiflexion","Fat Free Mass","H:Q Ratio","Margaria Kalmen","Triple Hop"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1519","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Christopher Carcia","Jason Scibek","Amy Phelps"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Cacolice, Paul"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-08-11T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Rehabilitation Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["One-year Embargo"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["PhD"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Anterior Cruciate Ligament","Dorsiflexion","Fat Free Mass","H:Q Ratio","Margaria Kalmen","Triple Hop"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1519"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Purpose: This study aimed to generate models predicting Ground Reaction Forces (GRFs), an established predictor of ACL injury incidence, from practical functional and clinical tests. Participants: Forty-two healthy, active college age individuals (21 females, age 20.667±1.461; 70.702±2.363cm; 82.202±7.606kg; 21 males, age 21.571±1.28; 65.524±1.874cm; 64.190±9.059kg) participated.
Methods and Materials: After assuring all participants met inclusion criteria and provided consent, lower extremity (LE) dominance was determined with drop landings. Individuals then had Fat Free Mass [FFM] determined from skinfolds, ankle joint dorsiflexion passive range of motion taken with a standard goniometer [DPROM], and performed the overhead deep squat test [ODS]. A warm-up on a bicycle ergometer then preceded determination of vertical [GRFz] and posterior ground reaction forces [GRFy] with five, signal-averaged LE drop landings from 35cm height onto a forceplate. Participants then performed the following tests in a counterbalanced order: Margaria-Kalamen [MK], Single Leg Triple Hop [SLTH], isometric peak force for lateral hip rotation [HipLR], knee flexion and knee extension. The knee flexion and extension peak force data was used to calculate a flexion:extension peak force ratio [H:Q] while GRFz and GRFy values were normalized to the participant’s FFM [nGRFz and nGRFy]. Stepwise linear regression models to predict the GRFs were calculated using FFM, DPROM, ODS, MK, SLTH, HipLR, H:Q and sex as the predictors. Alpha levels for all analyses were set a-priori at P≤ .05.
Results: Step-wise linear regression analysis indicated that a significant nGRFz model occurred utilizing all independent variables (Adjusted R2= .197, P= .048), but was most parsimonious with only SLTH and DPROM as predictor variables (Adjusted R2= .274; P=.001). Use of all eight-predictor variables for nGRFy also resulted in a statistically significant result (P= .001) but the most parsimonious model occurred with only H:Q, FFM and DPROM (Adjusted R2= .476; P< .001).
Conclusions: Two models significantly predicted GRFs from practical clinical measures and functional tests. One model predicted vertical ground reaction force from SLTH and DPROM, while one model predicted nGRFy from H:Q, FFM and DPROM. Clinical Relevance: If validated, a practical method of predicting nGRFy would be available to identify those at elevated ACL injury risk.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Ground Reaction Forces Are Predicted With Functional and Clinical Tests in a Healthy Collegiate Population"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Christopher Carcia","Jason Scibek","Amy Phelps"],"dc:creator":["Cacolice, Paul"],"dc:date.available":["2019-08-11T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Purpose: This study aimed to generate models predicting Ground Reaction Forces (GRFs), an established predictor of ACL injury incidence, from practical functional and clinical tests. Participants: Forty-two healthy, active college age individuals (21 females, age 20.667±1.461; 70.702±2.363cm; 82.202±7.606kg; 21 males, age 21.571±1.28; 65.524±1.874cm; 64.190±9.059kg) participated.
Methods and Materials: After assuring all participants met inclusion criteria and provided consent, lower extremity (LE) dominance was determined with drop landings. Individuals then had Fat Free Mass [FFM] determined from skinfolds, ankle joint dorsiflexion passive range of motion taken with a standard goniometer [DPROM], and performed the overhead deep squat test [ODS]. A warm-up on a bicycle ergometer then preceded determination of vertical [GRFz] and posterior ground reaction forces [GRFy] with five, signal-averaged LE drop landings from 35cm height onto a forceplate. Participants then performed the following tests in a counterbalanced order: Margaria-Kalamen [MK], Single Leg Triple Hop [SLTH], isometric peak force for lateral hip rotation [HipLR], knee flexion and knee extension. The knee flexion and extension peak force data was used to calculate a flexion:extension peak force ratio [H:Q] while GRFz and GRFy values were normalized to the participant’s FFM [nGRFz and nGRFy]. Stepwise linear regression models to predict the GRFs were calculated using FFM, DPROM, ODS, MK, SLTH, HipLR, H:Q and sex as the predictors. Alpha levels for all analyses were set a-priori at P≤ .05.
Results: Step-wise linear regression analysis indicated that a significant nGRFz model occurred utilizing all independent variables (Adjusted R2= .197, P= .048), but was most parsimonious with only SLTH and DPROM as predictor variables (Adjusted R2= .274; P=.001). Use of all eight-predictor variables for nGRFy also resulted in a statistically significant result (P= .001) but the most parsimonious model occurred with only H:Q, FFM and DPROM (Adjusted R2= .476; P< .001).
Conclusions: Two models significantly predicted GRFs from practical clinical measures and functional tests. One model predicted vertical ground reaction force from SLTH and DPROM, while one model predicted nGRFy from H:Q, FFM and DPROM. Clinical Relevance: If validated, a practical method of predicting nGRFy would be available to identify those at elevated ACL injury risk.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1519"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["Anterior Cruciate Ligament","Dorsiflexion","Fat Free Mass","H:Q Ratio","Margaria Kalmen","Triple Hop"],"dc:title":["Ground Reaction Forces Are Predicted With Functional and Clinical Tests in a Healthy Collegiate Population"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Rehabilitation Science"],"thesis:degree_level":["One-year Embargo"],"thesis:degree_name":["PhD"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:10:50Z"}