EFFECT OF LANDING SURFACE AND UPPER EXTREMITY CONSTRAINT ON BIOMECHANICS GRADED BY THE LANDING ERROR SCORING SYSTEM

The purpose of this study was to compare jump-landing biomechanics across 1) landing surface condition; and 2) upper extremity constraint condition as graded by the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). Recreational athletes (N=40; 21M, 19F) performed three jump-landings with three surface (Grass (GS), Court (CS), and Tile (TS)) and upper extremity constraint conditions (unconstrained (UN), football (AF), and lacrosse stick (LS)). The jump-landings were recorded via 2D videography and graded using the LESS. No differences were observed by surface (GS=5.01±1.40; CS=4.83±1.31; TS=5.09±1.86, p=0.52) or constraint condition (UN=5.09±1.86; FB=4.76±1.65; LS=4.86±1.76; p=0.21). The results indicate that the LESS is a robust instrument biomechanical screening in different landing environments and with sports with different upper extremity equipment