Jump landing characteristics predicts lower extremity injuries in indoor team sports

The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive
value of landing stability and technique to
gain insight into risk factors for ankle and knee
injuries in indoor team sport players. Seventyfive
male and female basketball, volleyball or
korfball players were screened by measuring
landing stability after a single-leg jump landing
and landing technique during a repeated counter
movement jump by detailed 3-dimensional kinematics
and kinetics. During the season 11 acute
ankle injuries were reported along with 6 acute
and 7 overuse knee injuries by the teams’ physical
therapist. Logistic regression analysis showed
less landing stability in the forward and diagonal
jump direction (OR 1.01–1.10, p ≤ 0.05) in players
who sustained an acute ankle injury. Furthermore
landing technique with a greater ankle dorsiflexion
moment increased the risk for acute
ankle injury (OR 2.16, p ≤ 0.05). A smaller knee
flexion moment and greater vertical ground
reaction force increased the risk of an overuse
knee injury (OR 0.29 and 1.13 respectively,
p ≤ 0.05). Less one-legged landing stability and
suboptimal landing technique were shown in
players sustaining an acute ankle and overuse
knee injury compared to healthy players. Determining
both landing stability and technique may
further guide injury prevention programs.