Effects of a Short-Term Conditioning Intervention on Knee Flexor Sensorimotor and Neuromuscular Performance in Males

Context:Long-term conditioning programmes for enhanced sensorimotor performance have been linked causally to reduced risk of serious ligamentous injury. However, the efficacy of brief, short-term conditioning interventions has not been established. Objective:To assess the effects of short-term sensorimotor conditioning on the knee flexors. Design:A randomized controlled trial. Setting:University research laboratory. Participants:Twenty three males randomly assigned to conditioning (n=12; age: 20.5 ± 1.8 yr; height: 1.80 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 74.3 ± 6.0 kg [mean ± SD]), and no conditioning control (n=11; age: 20.6 ± 1.9 yr; height: 1.79 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 73.6 ± 6.3 kg) groups. Intervention:Sensorimotor conditioning of the non-dominant leg (four sessions per week; three weeks). Main Outcome Measures:Sensorimotor (blind force and limb position replication errors) and neuromuscular (peak force, electromechanical delay [volitional and magnetically-evoked]) performance of the knee flexors of both legs were as...