Change in Kinetics and Kinematics during 1-Footed Drop Landing with an Increase in Upper Body Weight

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in kinetic and kinematic variables associated with an increase in upper body weight. Eighteen healthy male university students(<TEX>$175.96{\pm}4.19\;cm$</TEX>, <TEX>$70.79{\pm}8.26\;kg$</TEX>) participated. Eight motion analysis cameras(Qualysis Oqus 500) and 2 force AMTI platforms(Advanced Mechanical Technologies Inc. OR6-7, US) were used to record motion and forces during the drop landing at a frequency of 120 Hz and 1200 Hz, respectively. QTM software(Qualisys Track Manager) was used to record the data, and the variables were analyzed with Visual 3D and Matlab 2009. For the drop landing, a box of <TEX>$4{\times}2{\times}0.46\;m$</TEX> was constructed from wood. Knee and ankle maximum flexion angle, knee flexion angle, knee and ankle angle at landing, time for maximum ankle flexion after landing, and time for maximum knee flexion after landing were calculated. There was a significant change in the time for maximum and minimum ground force reaction and the time for maximum dorsal flexion after landing(p<.05) with increasing weight. There was no significant change for the hip, knee, and ankle ROM, whereas there was an increase in the angle ROM as the weight increased, in the order of ankle, knee, and hip ROM. This result shows that the ankle joint ROM increased with increasing weight for shock attenuation during the drop landing. There was a trend for greater ankle ROM than knee ROM, but there was no clear change in the ROM of the hip joint with increasing weight. In conclusion, this study shows the importance of ankle joint flexibility and strength for safe drop landing.