Effect of ball positions on trunk, hip, knee, and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics during a spike jump in volleyball

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are serious conditions encountered in volleyball players and occur frequently during spike jump landings. During spike jumps, the lower limb kinematics and kinetics during landing may be altered in relation to the ball position.

Research question: Does the ball position have an effect on lower-limb kinematics and kinetics during spike jumps?

Methods: We measured the lower limb kinematics and kinetics of 20 healthy female college volleyball athletes during a spike jump using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The ball positions were set to normal, dominant, and non-dominant positions. A repeated analysis of variance was used to compare the lower limb kinematics and kinetics at the initial contact and the maximum knee flexion during jump landing. Additionally, statistical parametric mapping analysis was used to analyze changes over time during the spike jumps.

Results: At the initial contact of the spike jump landing, the knee valgus angle, trunk lateral bending angle, and maximum knee valgus moment when the ball was set at the non-dominant position increased compared to those at the dominant position. Statistical parametric mapping analysis showed no significant change in knee valgus angle and moment of jump landing.

Conclusion: Knee valgus angle, trunk lateral bending angle, and maximum knee valgus moment increased with the non-dominant position; furthermore, the risk of ACL injury may also be increased.

Significance: The posture at ball impact may influence the landing kinematics and kinetics. Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to movements during and prior to landing.