Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury

Lower baseline neurocognitive ability could be a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. We investigated the effects of high-intensity exercise (HIE) on neurocognitive function in athletes, and if any changes in neurocognitive function after HIE had effects on an unanticipated cut...

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Main Authors: Mika Konishi, Satoshi Shibata, Masahiro Takemura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpfsm/14/3/14_55/_pdf/-char/en
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author Mika Konishi
Satoshi Shibata
Masahiro Takemura
author_facet Mika Konishi
Satoshi Shibata
Masahiro Takemura
author_sort Mika Konishi
collection DOAJ
description Lower baseline neurocognitive ability could be a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. We investigated the effects of high-intensity exercise (HIE) on neurocognitive function in athletes, and if any changes in neurocognitive function after HIE had effects on an unanticipated cutting motion. Fourteen collegiate female athletes performed a bicycle ergometer HIE exercise at 80% of their heart rate reserve. Neurocognitive function was evaluated by the Stroop interference test (SIT) pre- and post-HIE. Biomechanical variables were captured using a motion analysis system while participants performed side-step cutting tasks in anticipated and unanticipated conditions. Participants were divided into two groups according to the changes in SIT scores after HIE: increased performers (IP; n = 7) and decreased performers (DP; n = 7). The average SIT score of the IP group significantly increased, while that of the DP group significantly decreased after HIE (Paired t-test, p < 0.001). The main effect of HIE using repeated-measures ANOVA, was a significant decrease in peak knee valgus moment (pre: anticipated 0.1 ± 0.1Nm/kg, unanticipated 0.0 ± 0.2Nm/kg; post: anticipated 0.0 ± 0.1Nm/kg, unanticipated 0.1 ± 0.2Nm/kg, p = 0.024) and peak ground reaction force (pre: anticipated 3.3 ± 0.2%BW, unanticipated 3.8 ± 0.2%BW; post: anticipated 3.1 ± 0.3%BW, unanticipated 3.6 ± 0.4%BW, p = 0.035) only in the IP group. Athletes with improved neurocognitive function had decreased the biomechanical ACL injury risk factors during side-step cutting. Improving neurocognitive function may contribute to ACL injury prevention.
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spelling doaj-art-7902246b17894cbe9a45bd61b7fa4d862025-08-20T03:52:43ZengJapanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports MedicineJournal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine2186-81312186-81232025-05-01143556510.7600/jpfsm.14.55jpfsmChanges in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injuryMika Konishi0Satoshi Shibata1Masahiro Takemura2Doctoral Program in Sports Medicine, Degree Programs in Comprehensive Human Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of TsukubaDepartment of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health SciencesFaculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of TsukubaLower baseline neurocognitive ability could be a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. We investigated the effects of high-intensity exercise (HIE) on neurocognitive function in athletes, and if any changes in neurocognitive function after HIE had effects on an unanticipated cutting motion. Fourteen collegiate female athletes performed a bicycle ergometer HIE exercise at 80% of their heart rate reserve. Neurocognitive function was evaluated by the Stroop interference test (SIT) pre- and post-HIE. Biomechanical variables were captured using a motion analysis system while participants performed side-step cutting tasks in anticipated and unanticipated conditions. Participants were divided into two groups according to the changes in SIT scores after HIE: increased performers (IP; n = 7) and decreased performers (DP; n = 7). The average SIT score of the IP group significantly increased, while that of the DP group significantly decreased after HIE (Paired t-test, p < 0.001). The main effect of HIE using repeated-measures ANOVA, was a significant decrease in peak knee valgus moment (pre: anticipated 0.1 ± 0.1Nm/kg, unanticipated 0.0 ± 0.2Nm/kg; post: anticipated 0.0 ± 0.1Nm/kg, unanticipated 0.1 ± 0.2Nm/kg, p = 0.024) and peak ground reaction force (pre: anticipated 3.3 ± 0.2%BW, unanticipated 3.8 ± 0.2%BW; post: anticipated 3.1 ± 0.3%BW, unanticipated 3.6 ± 0.4%BW, p = 0.035) only in the IP group. Athletes with improved neurocognitive function had decreased the biomechanical ACL injury risk factors during side-step cutting. Improving neurocognitive function may contribute to ACL injury prevention.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpfsm/14/3/14_55/_pdf/-char/enacl injuryneurocognitive functionanticipationbiomechanics
spellingShingle Mika Konishi
Satoshi Shibata
Masahiro Takemura
Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury
Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
acl injury
neurocognitive function
anticipation
biomechanics
title Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury
title_full Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury
title_fullStr Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury
title_full_unstemmed Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury
title_short Changes in neurocognitive function after acute high-intensity exercise: decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of ACL injury
title_sort changes in neurocognitive function after acute high intensity exercise decreasing the biomechanical risk factors of acl injury
topic acl injury
neurocognitive function
anticipation
biomechanics
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpfsm/14/3/14_55/_pdf/-char/en
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AT satoshishibata changesinneurocognitivefunctionafteracutehighintensityexercisedecreasingthebiomechanicalriskfactorsofaclinjury
AT masahirotakemura changesinneurocognitivefunctionafteracutehighintensityexercisedecreasingthebiomechanicalriskfactorsofaclinjury