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The Effects of Loaded Drop Landings on Lower Extremity Biomechanics in College ROTC Cadets

Redinger, Allen L.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7152-6067
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596806472827961

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Exercise Physiology-Research (Health Sciences and Professions).
Lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries are a common occurrence that can threaten deployment, completion of duty, and quality of life for a soldier. Repetitive activities, explosive movements, impact forces, and extreme joint angles all increase risk for injury and are often found in military physical training. Addition of external loading is necessary for combat situations and can lead to biomechanical alterations in gait, landing, and reactive forces, even at small bodyweight-relative loads. Although external load might not be able to be manipulated, individual strength levels and appropriate landing technique may reduce the relative risk for injury. The purpose of this study was to determine how a combat-relative body-borne loads can affect lower extremity biomechanics in Reserve Officers’ Training Core cadets utilizing 3D motion capture and in-ground force plate analysis. Twenty-five college-aged Ohio University Reserve Officer’s Training Core cadets and military personnel conducted two series of three consecutive jump landings from a 30cm high box placed half their height from the landing position on two force plates. The testing series consisted of an unweighted baseline condition and a weighted condition of 35% of their bodyweight added to their person by the way of a tactical weighted vest. Unloaded baseline and weighted conditions were compared using a paired t-test and 95% confidence intervals (p<0.05). The results indicated that the weighted condition demonstrated a significantly greater maximal flexion angle for the hip, knee, and ankle joints, greater initial contact angles for the hip and knee joints, greater overall displacement for the hip, knee, and ankle joints, and lower normalized vertical ground reaction forces compared to the unweighted baseline condition. The resulting data could suggest that military training revolving around specific load accommodation, combat situational movements, and general strength training may allow for synchronized joint actions and reduced normalized GRF, potentially lowering the risk for a lower extremity and trunk musculoskeletal injury.
Jae Yom, PhD (Committee Chair)
Sharon Perry, PhD (Committee Member)
Grooms Dustin, PhD (Committee Member)
62 p.
Biomechanics
Biomechanics; Loaded Drop Landings; ROTC; Lower Extremity Biomechanics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Redinger, A. L. (2020). The Effects of Loaded Drop Landings on Lower Extremity Biomechanics in College ROTC Cadets [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596806472827961

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Redinger, Allen. The Effects of Loaded Drop Landings on Lower Extremity Biomechanics in College ROTC Cadets. 2020. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596806472827961.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Redinger, Allen. "The Effects of Loaded Drop Landings on Lower Extremity Biomechanics in College ROTC Cadets." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596806472827961

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1596806472827961
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© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.