Effect of Different Drop Heights and Load on Lower Extremity Kinetics in Landing Task

Abstract

Human’s landing strategies have been explained through lower extremity kinetics in various conditions. However, how lower extremity kinetics respond when the two conditions between a load and landing height are combined is not yet understood. To achieve the purpose of this study, a total of 20 men and women were subjected to drop landing according to a load(No load, 10%, 20%, 30% of the body weight) at various landing heights(0.3 m, 0.4 m, 0.5 m). As a result of the study, the main effect of a load was not statistically significant in all variables. But increasing of the landing heights showed more flexion angle which was statistically significant in knee joint. In addition, as the landing height increased, the medial-lateral, anterior-posterior, vertical force, and loading rate increased, while time to peak vertical force decreased which was statistically significant. Thus, humans can successfully perform the landing motion even if the load is changed at various heights. However, it reacted more sensitively to the change in landing height than that load condition. The landing height can be prepared for recognition and shock absorption through visual information, but the weight level is difficult for the body to perceive and explains why it is more difficult to apply it to the landing strategy mechanism for shock absorption.