Military Movement Training Program Improves Jump-Landing Mechanics Associated With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk

Abstract

As part of the physical education program at the United States Military Academy, all cadets complete a movement training course designed to develop skills and improve performance in military-related physical tasks as well as obstacle navigation. The purpose of this study was to determine if completion of this course would also result in changes in jump-landing technique that reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Analysis of landing mechanics on a two-footed jump landing from a height of 30 cm with a three-dimensional motion capture system synchronized with two force plates revealed both positive and negative changes. Video assessment using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) revealed an overall improved landing technique (p=.001) when compared to baseline assessments. The studied military movement course appears to elicit mixed but overall improved lower extremity jump-landing mechanics associated with risk for ACL injury.

The Effects of an Injury Prevention Program on Landing Biomechanics Over Time

“…Therefore, it is possible that the cadets assigned to the DIME program did not have enough exposures to result in changes during the intervention period but that continued exposure to movement training during the course helped facilitate the changes observed. While Owens et al 12 observed improved LESS scores and increased landing time in military cadets after completing this course, we do not believe that the military movement course alone resulted in the VGRF changes in the current study. Both groups (SWU, DIME) completed the military movement course at the same time, but the SWU did not result in the same reductions in VGRF.…”

Consortium for Health and Military Performance and American College of Sports Medicine Summit

“…Researchers are starting to address these requirements. For example, Owens et al (117) found that a military movement training program was effective in improving jump-landing mechanics as measured by the LESS, but reductions in injury were not determined. Also Kiesel et al (71) found that training programs focused on enhancing functional movement improved FMS scores during the off season for athletes in the NFL, but again, whether these functional improvements actually reduced injury rates and/or time lost to training was not determined.…”

Optimization-based subject-specific planar human vertical jumping prediction: Model development and validation

“…15,16 The kinetics and kinematics of the involved joints are related to the attenuation of ground reaction forces and energy absorption. 17,18 By improving lower extremity energy absorption 19 and landing mechanics, 20 researchers and trainers seek to reduce ACL and other injuries like ankle sprains. 21 There are some training protocols to improve balance and landing mechanics based on some particular points.…”