The effect of an inclined landing surface on biomechanical variables during a jumping task

Abstract

Background: Professional dancers sustain a high number of injuries. Epidemiological studies have suggested that performing on inclined "raked" stages increases the likelihood of injury. However, no studies have examined if biomechanical differences exist between inclined and flat surfaces during functional tasks, such as landing from a jump. Such differences may provide a biomechanical rationale for differences in injury risk for raked stages.

Methods: Eight professional dancers performed drop jumps from a 40cm platform on flat and inclined surfaces while forces, lower extremity kinematics, and electromyographic activity were collected in a controlled laboratory environment.

Findings: Dancers landed on the laterally inclined surface with significantly higher knee valgus (4 degrees ), peak knee flexion (9 degrees ), and medial-lateral ground reaction force (GRF) (13.4% body weight) compared to the flat condition. The posterior GRF was higher in the anterior inclined condition compared to the flat condition. In the anterior inclined condition, subjects landed with 1.4 degrees higher knee valgus, 4 degrees more plantarflexion at initial contact, and 3 degrees less dorsiflexion at the end of landing.

Interpretation: Biomechanical variables that have been suggested to contribute to injury in previous studies are increased in the inclined floor conditions. These findings provide a preliminary biomechanical rationale for differences in injury rates found in observational studies of raked stages.

Figure 1

Experimental set up relative to inclined flooring

Figure 2

Coronal plane motion of the knee during landing on level and inclined floors

Figure 3

Medial-Lateral GRF during landing on level and inclined floors