EFFECT OF LANDING IMPACTS AT FALL FROM HANGING WITH BODY WEIGHT INCREMNET

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the landing impacts of falls from short heights with body weight increment. Eight male college students participated as subjects. The body weight increments were gradually increased by 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kg by attaching 500 gram iron bars in the pocket of vests that students wore. The subjects performed the landing by falling from a height of 2.7 m above and they landed on the surface of a force plate as softly as possible. The landing impacts, muscular activities, and joint movements of lower limbs during landing were analyzed by a force plate using EMG and VTR programs.
The results indicated that there were no significant increments found in maximal landing impact even though the body weight was increased from 2 to 10 kg. The flexion of ankle, knee and hip joints started immediately before landing and increased after landing with the body weight increments. The activity of plantar and dorsi flexor muscles after landing were increased intensively with the body weight increments. Although the body weight increased from 2 to 10 kg gradually, landing impact at fall did not increase. It may be controlled by fast and deep flexing movements of lower limb joints during landing.