Influence of platform height and dominant and nondominant legs on landing sound and kinetics or kinematics characteristics in healthy participants

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationship between landing sound and the kinematic/kinetic characteristics of the dominant and nondominant legs. We also tested whether assessing the landing sound during single-leg landing motion by changing the platform height could be a simple alternative to using a force plate.

Methods: Seventeen healthy adult women performed single-leg landing motions with their dominant and nondominant legs from 20- and 30-cm platforms, respectively. At that moment, the maximum values of the landing sound, vertical ground reaction force, loading rate, knee valgus moment, knee valgus/flexion, and hip flexion angle changes were measured.

Results: No significant differences were observed between the dominant and non-dominant legs in landing sound, vertical ground reaction force, or loading rate. A significant correlation was noted between the landing sound, vertical ground reaction force, and loading rate for both legs when landing on a single leg from a 30-cm-high platform.

Conclusion: The landing sound from a 30-cm-high platform may be used as a simple evaluation method instead of a force plate.