Anterior cruciate ligament rupture secondary to a 'heel hook': a dangerous martial arts technique

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010 Jan;18(1):115-6. doi: 10.1007/s00167-009-0877-y. Epub 2009 Jul 24.

Abstract

The 'heel hook' is a type of knee lock used in some forms of martial arts to stress the knee and cause opponent to concede defeat. While the knee is in a flexed and valgus disposition, an internal rotation force is applied to the tibia. Reports are lacking on serious knee trauma as a result of this technique. We report the case of a 32-year-old Mixed Martial Arts exponent who sustained complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture and an medial collateral ligament injury from the use of a 'heel hook'.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries*
  • Humans
  • Knee / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Martial Arts / injuries*
  • Rotation
  • Rupture, Spontaneous