SIDE-TOSIDE ASYMMETRY OF LANDING KINETICS IN HEAVY AND LIGHT BASKETBALL PLAYERS DURING A DROP LANDING

Abstract

This study examined (1) the effect of body mass on impact forces during drop landings in basketball players, and (2) side-to-side asymmetry in landing kinetics between legs. Thirty male basketball players were assigned into 'heavy" (n = 15, mass 82.7 i 4.3 kg) or "light" (n = 15, mass 63.1 * 2.8 kg) groups. Players performed five drop landings from a 0.42 m platform. Vertical ground reaction forces for both legs were sampled using two adjacent and embedded force plates. A mixed factorial analysis of variance (Body Mass x Side) was applied to normalised peak force and loading rate variables (a = -05). The left leg experienced higher forefoot peak force (1 5.946, p = .001), forefoot mean loading rate (10.9%, p = .007) and rearfoot mean loading rate (1 1.846, p = .014) than the right leg, suggesting that side-to-side asymmetry exists. No body mass effect was found.