Contribution of Lower Extremity Joints on Energy Absorption during Soft Landing

Akihiro Tamura, Kiyokazu Akasaka and Takahiro Otsudo
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Akihiro Tamura: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences at Narita, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita, Chiba 286-8686, Japan
Kiyokazu Akasaka: Department of Physical Therapy, Saitama Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0496, Japan
Takahiro Otsudo: Department of Physical Therapy, Saitama Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, Moroyama, Saitama 350-0496, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: Soft landing after jumping is associated with the prevention of lower extremity injuries during sports activities in terms of the energy absorption mechanisms. In this study, the contribution of lower extremity joints during soft landing was investigated. Subjects comprised 20 healthy females. Kinetics and kinematics data were obtained during drop vertical jumps using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Negative mechanical work values in the lower extremity joints were calculated during landing. A multiple regression analysis was performed to determine which lower extremity joints contributed more in achieving soft landing. The means of mechanical work of the hip, knee, and ankle in the sagittal plane were ?0.30 ± 0.17, ?0.62 ± 0.31, and ?1.03 ± 0.22 J/kg, respectively. Results showed that negative mechanical work in the hip and knee is effective in achieving soft landing. These findings indicate that energy absorption in the hip and knee joints might be an important factor in achieving soft landing, whereas that in the ankle has a negative effect. Therefore, when improving soft landing techniques, we should consider energy absorption in the hip and knee via eccentric activation of the hip and knee extensors during landing.

Keywords: injury prevention; angular impulse; biomechanics; shock attenuation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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