The Relationship Between Landing Error Scoring System-Real Time and Dorsiflexion Range of Motion in Recreational Athletes

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANDING ERROR SCORING SYSTEMREAL TIME AND DORSIFLEXION RANGE OF MOTION IN RECREATIONAL ATHLETES Hannah Martha Twiddy Old Dominion University, 2016 Director: Dr. Johanna Hoch Participation in physical activity is important for overall health; however, lower extremity injuries are a major risk associated with physical activity. Injuries can lead to time away from physical activity and be associated with negative health consequences. The most common injuries are traumatic injuries to the knee and ankle; which may be related to poor landing mechanics and decreased range of motion. Previous research utilizing motion analysis systems have determined people with greater dorsiflexion range of motion (DROM) demonstrated smaller ground reaction forces and greater knee and hip flexion displacement while landing; indicating a softer landing strategy. The ability to screen for landing mechanics and range of motion deficiencies is an important step in the prevention of physical activity related injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to examine the relationship between jump landing biomechanics and DROM utilizing real-time, field-based assessments in recreational athletes. Thirty-six collegiate club soccer and basketball athletes participated in a single testing session. Jump-landing mechanics were assessed with the Landing Error Scoring System-Real Time (LESS-RT) and DROM was measured with the Weight Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT). Spearman’s rank correlations identified a weak, insignificant relationship between the WBLT summary and LESS-RT (r = 0.11, p = 0.52). Although a significant relationship was not identified, scores from individual items on the LESS-RT related to knee flexion, trunk flexion, and knee valgus were the primary contributors to poor landing mechanics and warrant further examination. Although these findings do not support previous laboratory studies, it appears the LESS-RT and WBLT may provide unique information to be considered when examining injury risk. We reject the hypothesis that there would be a relationship between LESS-RT and WBLT; however, measures of DROM and LESS-RT items in these recreational sport participants revealed areas of further examination for these lower extremity assessments.