INTRODUCTION

One of the essential movements that may be seen in athletic conditioning is the lunge. The lunge is a fundamental movement that is required in fencing, aerobics, step-aerobics, and tennis. In tennis, the anterior lunge is critical because it is involved in the volleying motion. In step-aerobics, the posterior lunge is a basic movement used in the formation of exercise combinations. The lunge has also been incorporated into strength training because it is believed to be beneficial for quadriceps development. We will be studying the difference between the knee joint angles exhibited during the anterior and posterior lunge in a college-aged female to determine which movement is healthier for the knee joint.

The purpose of this experiment is to investigate which knee joint angles minimize and maximize stretch of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee. The more stretch of the ligament results in an increased risk of injury. We will do this by measuring the different knee joint angles in the anterior and posterior lunges.