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Abstract
Long jumpers with below the knee amputation (BKA) have achieved remarkable performances, yet the underlying biomechanics resulting in these jump distances are unknown. We measured three-dimensional motion and used multi-segment modelling to quantify and compare the centre of mass (COM) and joint kinematics of three long jumpers with BKA and seven non-amputee long jumpers during the take-off step of the long jump. Despite having the same jump distances, athletes with BKA, who used their affected leg for the take-off step, had lower sagittal plane hip and knee joint range of motion and positioned their affected leg more laterally relative to the COM compared to non-amputee athletes. Athletes with BKA had a longer compression phase and greater downward movement of their COM, suggesting that their affected leg (lever) was less rigid compared to the biological leg of non-amputees. Thus, athletes with BKA used a different kinematic mechanism to redirect horizontal to vertical velocity compared to non-amputee athletes. The specific movement patterns of athletes with BKA during the take-off step were constrained by the mechanical properties of the prosthesis. These results provide a basis for coaches and athletes to develop training protocols that improve performance and inform the design of future prostheses.
Highlights
Humans are capable of adapting the way they move to accomplish a wide range of bipedal movement tasks [1,2,3,4]
In line with Nolan et al [11], we found that the underlying centre of mass (COM) [7] and joint kinetics [7,12] were fundamentally different throughout the takeoff step between three male long jumpers with below the knee amputation (BKA) who used their affected leg as their take-off leg compared to male non-amputee long jumpers
Athletes with BKA reached maximum knee flexion (MKF) in their take-off leg later during the take-off step compared to the non-amputee athletes
Summary
Humans are capable of adapting the way they move to accomplish a wide range of bipedal movement tasks [1,2,3,4]. Specific take-off parameters, which directly determine jump distance, such as take-off angle, COM height and velocity, were similar at the end of the take-off step for the best long jumper with BKA ( personal record (PR) at the time of the study: 8.40 m) and the best non-amputee long jumper (PR: 8.52 m) [7]. Since the use of an RSP results in different biomechanics for athletes with BKA during running and sprinting compared to non-amputees [21 –23], the sagittal, as well as frontal and transverse plane kinematics during the long jump take-off step, may differ between athletes with and without a BKA. Determining the three-dimensional kinematics of athletes with BKA using an RSP and their affected leg as their take-off leg during the long jump compared to non-amputees will provide information that can be used to improve training techniques and prosthetic design. A comprehensive threedimensional analysis of the biomechanical movement patterns elicited by athletes with BKA will, generate valuable insight about the long jump and jumping locomotion in general
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