Brown, SRBrughelli, MHume, P2017-02-282017-02-282015-072015-07International Society of Biomechanics in Sports held at Poitier, France, pp.543 - 546https://hdl.handle.net/10292/10348Sidestepping mechanics have been implicated as a risk factor for knee injury in rugby. Carrying a ball is proposed to alter movement patterns. Therefore the purpose of the study was to examine the effects of sidestepping with a ball compared to sidestepping without a ball on lower-extremity biomechanics in male rugby athletes. Three-dimensional kinematics of 18 male rugby athletes were recorded during a maximal effort 45° sidestepping task without and with a ball. Sidestepping with a ball resulted in 15% greater knee adduction angle during weight acceptance and 18% greater hip adduction angle during peak pushoff than without a ball. Future biomechanical evaluations of athletes require the inclusion of the ball specific to the sport to ensure accurate interpretation of movement patterns.This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.Knee injury; Anterior cruciate ligament; ACL; Planned; Cut; ManoeuvreConference ContributionOpenAccess