Neuromuscular control to protect the knee during the cutting maneuver
Variations in neuromuscular, muscular and ligament responses protecting the knee joint have been observed in both animals and humans. Studies in the literature have shown the existence of mechanoreceptors in human ACL
The neuromuscular activity seems to consist, in this specific case, in the isolated activation of the flexors to protect the anterior cruciate ligament
In co-contraction, therefore in the simultaneous activity of the flexors and quadriceps, a state of greater stability of the knee joint occurs
From what emerges from the international literature, the speed of action of the protective reflexes of the ligamentous muscle-tendon complex is often unable to give immediate protection to the capsular ligament apparatus of the knee in typical game situations.
At this point it is appropriate to specify what Tabachnik and Brunner highlighted, that the simple motor reaction time can be divided into two periods, the latency time and the activation time, where:
'The latency time is the "interval between the" start of the stimulus and the moment in which muscle biocurrents emerge "
While the activation time which is of great sporting interest is:
"... ... .. the time between when the" organism receives the stimulus and the reaction "
According to what these authors write, the latency time cannot be improved with training sessions, as it is genetically inherited, as opposed to the activation time which can certainly be improved with specific training.
In practice, the success of the protective activity is related to the speed at which the active muscles are used.
An excellent regulation of neuromuscular spindles, especially those of type 1a which are sensitive to phasic stretching (which occur at a given speed and in a limited time), can improve the time of the neuromuscular response.
Stretching of the ligamentous receptors increases the response of the neuromuscular spindles
A metabolic work oriented, in excess, towards resistance, negatively influences fundamental qualities for the basketball player, in terms of speed and rapid strength, to negative adaptations such as the "increase in the inhibition of co-contraction".
It is not known, however, whether these levels of reduced co-contraction capacity are also observed during sports activity.
But it is also true, however, that during the performance of the competitive activity, both central and peripheral fatigue often manifests itself, involving an "alteration of sports performance, such as a decrease in coordination skills.
In modern basketball, high coordination skills are required.
According to Dal Monte and Faina "...... le athletes do not possess sufficient technical coordination characteristics if compared to male players " .
This is associated with a reduction in the processing and perceptive capacity, which have a noticeable impact in significantly raising moments of risk of acute traumatological events.
Comparing training carried out on "guided" muscle machines, with the use of the free barbell, clearly during CKC exercises, we note that the use of the free barbell forces the athlete to stabilize the joint, in the subsequent varus movements. -valgus internal rotation, external rotation with a consequential improvement in neuromuscular control. Thus, during a "guided" execution the "athlete" learns "to maximize the muscle activation patterns generated by the moments of flexion and extension, but probably" unlearns "or rather makes the mechanoreceptors" ignorant ".
Plyometric work protocols are used to improve the control of muscle activity, the voluntary reaction time and lower the time to reach the peak of strength. A program aimed at improving the resistant strength, in contrast, increases the voluntary reaction times. .
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