Different foot contact during jump landing; Effects on ankle and knee joint shock absorption

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different foot contacts at landing on shock absorption. Ten subjects (one rearfoot strike, nine forefoot strikes) performed drop-jumping from a 30-cm-high platform. After the ankle, knee, and hip joint power and the vertical ground reaction force were found and recorded using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, those of rearfoot strikes and forefoot strikes were mutually compared. Results showed that the amount of negative work (shock absorption) at the knee was greater for rearfoot strikes than for forefoot strikes, and show that the peak of joint power occurred earlier.