The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements

Background: Jump-landing is a major cause of lower limb injuries. This study investigated the effect of various aerial catching movements on the co-contraction index (CCI) of the knee and ankle muscles, as well as on joint angular displacements and joint moments during landing. Methods: Fifteen r...

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Main Authors: Ting Wang, Penglei Fan, Shuai Wang, Youngsuk Kim, Sukwon Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MRE Press 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Men's Health
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Online Access:https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250730-587/pdf/JOMH2025042501.pdf
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author Ting Wang
Penglei Fan
Shuai Wang
Youngsuk Kim
Sukwon Kim
author_facet Ting Wang
Penglei Fan
Shuai Wang
Youngsuk Kim
Sukwon Kim
author_sort Ting Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Jump-landing is a major cause of lower limb injuries. This study investigated the effect of various aerial catching movements on the co-contraction index (CCI) of the knee and ankle muscles, as well as on joint angular displacements and joint moments during landing. Methods: Fifteen right-hand dominant collegiate basketball players (age: 21.0 ± 1.2 years; weight: 79.9 ± 7.9 kg; height: 180.9 ± 5.5 cm; training experience, 5.6 ± 3.5 years) performed maximal countermovement jumps under four conditions: no catching (NC), right (RULC), left (LULC) and bilateral (BULC) upper-limb catching. Electromyography of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and tibialis anterior (TA), along with kinematic and kinetic data, were recorded during landing. The co-contraction index (CCI) of knee and ankle muscles before and after landing, as well as angular displacements and peak joint moments were calculated. Results: When compared to the NC condition, all aerial catching movements resulted in reduced knee flexion (RULC, p = 0.004, d = −1.11; LULC, p < 0.001, d = −1.52; BULC, p = 0.013, d = −0.97) and increased ankle dorsiflexion (RULC, p = 0.002, d = −1.21; LULC, p = 0.004, d = −1.13; BULC, p < 0.001, d = −1.50) angular displacement after landing, along with significantly higher CCI of RF-BF (RULC, p = 0.018, d = 0.93; LULC, p = 0.033, d = 0.85; BULC, p = 0.042, d = 0.81) and LG-TA (RULC, p = 0.025, d = 0.88; LULC, p = 0.004, d = 1.12; BULC, p = 0.015, d = 0.95) before landing, the LULC condition led to greater knee abduction angular displacement (p = 0.002, d = 1.19) and moment (p = 0.001, d = 1.26), and lower RF-BF CCI after landing (p = 0.037, d = 0.83). Aerial catching movements increased lower limb muscle co-contraction before landing and led to greater knee stiffness after landing. However, LULC reduced knee co-contraction and increased frontal plane knee motion after landing, indicating decreased joint stability and higher injury risk. Conclusions: Injury prevention programs should incorporate upper limb coordination and perturbation training—especially for the left arm—to enhance motor control and joint stability during sport-specific tasks.
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spelling doaj-art-df810ef19f344052bae13430e1d4067d2025-08-20T03:15:53ZengMRE PressJournal of Men's Health1875-68671875-68592025-07-01217475510.22514/jomh.2025.095S1875-6867(25)00412-9The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movementsTing Wang0Penglei Fan1Shuai Wang2Youngsuk Kim3Sukwon Kim4Institute of Student Physical Health Promotion, Jingchu University of Technology, 448000 Jingmen, Hubei, ChinaCollege of Education and Sports Sciences, Yangtze University, 434023 Jingzhou, Hubei, ChinaDepartment of Physical Education, Jeonbuk National University, 54896 Jeonju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Education, Jeonbuk National University, 54896 Jeonju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Education, Jeonbuk National University, 54896 Jeonju, Republic of KoreaBackground: Jump-landing is a major cause of lower limb injuries. This study investigated the effect of various aerial catching movements on the co-contraction index (CCI) of the knee and ankle muscles, as well as on joint angular displacements and joint moments during landing. Methods: Fifteen right-hand dominant collegiate basketball players (age: 21.0 ± 1.2 years; weight: 79.9 ± 7.9 kg; height: 180.9 ± 5.5 cm; training experience, 5.6 ± 3.5 years) performed maximal countermovement jumps under four conditions: no catching (NC), right (RULC), left (LULC) and bilateral (BULC) upper-limb catching. Electromyography of the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and tibialis anterior (TA), along with kinematic and kinetic data, were recorded during landing. The co-contraction index (CCI) of knee and ankle muscles before and after landing, as well as angular displacements and peak joint moments were calculated. Results: When compared to the NC condition, all aerial catching movements resulted in reduced knee flexion (RULC, p = 0.004, d = −1.11; LULC, p < 0.001, d = −1.52; BULC, p = 0.013, d = −0.97) and increased ankle dorsiflexion (RULC, p = 0.002, d = −1.21; LULC, p = 0.004, d = −1.13; BULC, p < 0.001, d = −1.50) angular displacement after landing, along with significantly higher CCI of RF-BF (RULC, p = 0.018, d = 0.93; LULC, p = 0.033, d = 0.85; BULC, p = 0.042, d = 0.81) and LG-TA (RULC, p = 0.025, d = 0.88; LULC, p = 0.004, d = 1.12; BULC, p = 0.015, d = 0.95) before landing, the LULC condition led to greater knee abduction angular displacement (p = 0.002, d = 1.19) and moment (p = 0.001, d = 1.26), and lower RF-BF CCI after landing (p = 0.037, d = 0.83). Aerial catching movements increased lower limb muscle co-contraction before landing and led to greater knee stiffness after landing. However, LULC reduced knee co-contraction and increased frontal plane knee motion after landing, indicating decreased joint stability and higher injury risk. Conclusions: Injury prevention programs should incorporate upper limb coordination and perturbation training—especially for the left arm—to enhance motor control and joint stability during sport-specific tasks.https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250730-587/pdf/JOMH2025042501.pdfelectromyographylower limb injuriesbiomechanicsanterior cruciate ligament
spellingShingle Ting Wang
Penglei Fan
Shuai Wang
Youngsuk Kim
Sukwon Kim
The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
Journal of Men's Health
electromyography
lower limb injuries
biomechanics
anterior cruciate ligament
title The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
title_full The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
title_fullStr The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
title_full_unstemmed The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
title_short The alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co-contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
title_sort alterations of leg joint angular displacements and muscle co contraction at landing following various aerial catching movements
topic electromyography
lower limb injuries
biomechanics
anterior cruciate ligament
url https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250730-587/pdf/JOMH2025042501.pdf
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