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. Seventy-five 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.
Key words
overuse - acute - knee - ankle - stability - biomechanics
