Kinetic insights into unipodal landings: A detailed study with gender differences

Abstract

Knee injuries represent a predominant reality in sports practice. Kinetic factors or gender seem to be determining aspects for the onset of a knee injury. Currently, numerous studies have identified injury mechanisms suggesting an increased risk of suffering an injury, with landings being a fundamental element for evaluation. However, contributions regarding the analysis of kinetic factors during single-leg landings in non-professional athletes are scarce. This study investigates the kinetic factors associated with non-traumatic knee injuries during unipodal landings, focusing on gender differences and analyzing their disparities. A sample of 162 non-professional participants engaged in physical activity underwent unipodal landings from a height of 30 cm, evaluating forces and accelerations using a triaxial force platform and accelerometers. The analysis revealed nuanced findings regarding ground reaction forces (GRF), mediolateral (ML), and anteroposterior (AP) forces. While no significant differences were observed between men and women in vertical forces, women exhibited higher ML force, which could indicate neuromuscular control issues or associations with knee varus and valgus. Acceleration analysis highlighted comparable knee and ankle responses between genders, with women demonstrating slightly higher knee acceleration. The study underscores the role of GRF, ML, and AP forces in knee injury risk during landing, providing a comprehensive view of biomechanical aspects that may contribute to increased injury incidence. Gender-specific dynamics and potential implications for injury prevention strategies are analyzed. Further exploration is conducted on the kinetic differences found based on gender. This research enhances our understanding of knee injury mechanisms and aids in adapting preventive measures for athletic populations.