LOWER EXTREMITY FLEXION ANGLES AND VERTICAL GROUND REACTION FORCE DURING LANDING IN MULTIDIRECTIONS: A PILOT STUDY IN FEMALE ATHLETES

Abstract

Single-leg jump landing is a complex task. This study investigated lower extremity motion and vertical ground reaction force (GRF) during jump landing between dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) limbs. Five female athletes performed the single leg jump-landing test from a 30 cm height platform in four directions; forward (0°), 30° diagonal, 60° diagonal, and lateral (90°) directions. The findings showed that jump-landing direction significantly influenced hip and knee flexion angles at initial contact phase, hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion angles, at peak vertical GRF phase, and the peak value of vertical GRF. Female athletes exhibited a trend of using an ankle strategy in multidirections of landing that is similar to stiff landing. An increase of hip and knee flexion should be suggested during landing to increase a soft landing.