Drop jump landing knee valgus angle; normative data in a physically active population
Received 2 September 2009; received in revised form 10 November 2009; accepted 30 November 2009. published online 08 January 2010.
Abstract
Objective
Establish normative values for knee valgus angle during drop jump and step landings.
Design
Observational.
Setting
University biomechanics laboratory.
Participants
100 physically active asymptomatic individuals (50 male, 50 female) aged 18–28 years old.
Main outcome measures
Knee valgus angle during drop jump and step landings.
Results
There were no differences between genders during the step landing task (p < 0.12) but there were differences during the drop jump landing task (p < 0.048). Both males and females showed no significant differences between sides for either of the tasks (p > 0.05) or between the valgus angle generated for either of the tasks (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
It would appear in order to be regarded as an average “normal” performance during a drop jump landing task knee valgus angle should be symmetrical and in the range of 7–13° for females and 3–8° for males. For a unilateral step landing task knee valgus angle should be symmetrical and in the range of 5–12° for females and 1–9° for males.
ABSTRACT