Frontal and sagittal plane biomechanics during drop jump landing in boys who are obese.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frontal and sagittal plane lower extremity biomechanics during drop jump landings in boys who were obese and boys who were of healthy weight.


METHODS
Twelve boys participated, 6 were considered as healthy weight (body mass index for age <85%, age 11.0 +/- 0.8 years), and 6 were considered as obese (body mass index for age >95%, age 12.1 +/- 0.7 years). Three-dimensional data were collected during landing from a drop jump. Group means were compared using Student t tests (alpha = 0.05).


RESULTS
Significant differences were found in peak hip adduction moment, timing of peak dorsiflexion and knee flexion angles, and timing of peak knee extension and abduction moments.


CONCLUSIONS
Boys who were obese exhibited significant differences in frontal and sagittal plane biomechanics when landing from a jump compared with healthy weight peers. These differences could place boys who are obese at greater risk for lower extremity injuries when they engage in jump-landing activities.
Department of Physical Therapy, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA. grossmcmillana@ecu.edu
Amy Gross
AG
McMillan
Kali A
KA
Phillips
David N
DN
Collier
D S
DS
Blaise Williams
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty