Description

Jump landings have been associated with lower extremity (LE) injuries in collegiate athletes. Prior studies have focused on evaluating biomechanics during vertical jumping movements and cutting maneuvers, but few have assessed a single leg lateral broad jump (SLLBJ). A SLLBJ may be a more challenging task to identify faulty biomechanics. The purpose of this study is to examine the LE kinematics during the landing phase of a SLLBJ. Six Division I men’s basketball athletes ages 20-23 years (avg height: 1.9m, avg weight: 94.9kg) were tested during pre-season. Athletes were uninjured and eligible to play at the time of testing. For the SLLBJ, participants began in single leg stance on the push off limb, pushed off to perform a lateral jump, and landed in single leg stance on the opposite leg (landing limb). The test was performed separately on each LE. The loading phase of the jump was defined from initial contact (IC) of the landing limb to 200ms after contact. 3D LE kinematics were measured, relative to a reference standing posture, using 3D motion analysis software. Position of the LE at IC, and excursion of the hip, knee, and ankle during the loading phase of the jump were calculated. Ranges of joint angles across LE for all athletes are used to describe LE kinematics during the SLLBJ. The position of the athletes’ LE at IC was hip flexion (20.2-32.9°) and abduction (17.9-34.7°), while rotation position varied (from 4.8° lateral–13.4° medial); knee flexion (13.3-30.2°), abduction (1.0-7.1°), and varied rotation position (from 6.8° lateral-8.4° medial); and most displayed foot and ankle plantarflexion (16.0-27.0°), inversion (-1.8-15.5°), and adduction (0.1-12.4°). During the loading phase, most athletes moved into hip flexion (9.9-22.7°), adduction (11.2-19.9°), medial rotation (-1.6-13.9°); flexion (15.7-32.2°), adduction (0.1-9.1°), and medial rotation (-1.6-10.8°) at the knee; and moved into dorsiflexion (25.0-44.5°), inversion (-1.2-21.6°), and abduction (-1.0-14.8°) at the foot and ankle. The majority of injuries sustained in jumping sports are to the lower extremities. Since lateral jumping movements are commonplace in basketball, the current study provides a foundation for future research to explore risk factors for LE injuries using the SLLBJ.