Lower Extremity Kinematics and Kinetics When Landing From Unloaded and Loaded Jumps
in Journal of Applied BiomechanicsClick name to view affiliation
University of Wollongong
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Edith Cowan University
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Countermovement jumps loaded with a weighted vest are often used for the training of lower body power to improve jump performance. However, it is currently unknown how this added load affects the lower extremity kinematics and kinetics, in particular whether this results in an increased injury risk. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine how lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during landing are affected by loaded jumps as demonstrated in a volleyball block jump landing. Ten elite male volleyball players performed block jump landings in an unloaded and loaded (9.89 kg) condition. Kinematic and kinetic landing data from the three highest jumps were collected and assessed. Paired samples t test was used to establish whether load condition had a significant effect on lower extremity kinematics and kinetics. Hip flexion was significantly greater in the unloaded condition compared with the loaded condition (p = .004). There was no significant difference in any other kinematic or kinetic variables measures between the unloaded and loaded conditions. These results suggest that landing from loaded volleyball block jumps does not increase injury risk compared with unloaded jumps in elite male volleyball players.
Ina Janssen (Corresponding Author) is with the Movement Science Department, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia, and with the Biomechanics Research Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Jeremy M. Sheppard is with Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. Andrew A. Dingley is with the Physiology Department, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Dale W. Chapman is with Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia, and with the Physiology Department, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia. Wayne Spratford is with the Movement Science Department, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
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