Research article - (2022)21, 224 - 232
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2022.224
Adjusted Landing Technique Reduces the Load on the Achilles Tendon in Badminton Players
Niels Christian Kaldau1,, Niels Jensby Nedergaard2, Per Hölmich1, Jesper Bencke2
1Sports Orthopedic Research Center - Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
2Human Movement Analysis Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

Niels Christian Kaldau
✉ Sports Orthopedic Research Center - Copenhagen (SORC-C), Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager-Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
Email: nckaldau@gmail.com
Received: 08-02-2022 -- Accepted: 07-04-2022
Published (online): 01-06-2022

ABSTRACT

Achilles tendon (AT) rupture is common among recreational male badminton players. We hypothesize that a landing technique following forehand jump strokes with the landing foot in a neutral position often performed by recreational players and occasionally by elite players may expose the AT to higher loads than a scissor kick jump (SKJ) technique with the leg/foot externally rotated. The study aimed to investigate if recreational players could reduce the load in the AT when adopting the SKJ technique compared to their habitual landing technique with the foot in a neutral position and secondarily to compare the AT force between recreational players and elite players. Ten recreational male players performed simulated jump strokes in a biomechanical laboratory using both their original technique and the SKJ technique traditionally used by elite players. For comparison reasons ten elite players performed SKJs. Landing kinematics and AT forces were captured and calculated using 3D movement analysis. The landing leg was more externally rotated in the recreational players' adjusted technique (78 ± 10 degrees, p < 0.001) compared to 22 ± 21 degrees in recreational players' original technique. The peak AT force of the recreational players was significantly higher for the original technique compared to the adjusted technique (68 ± 19 N/kg vs. 50 ± 14 N/kg, p = 0.005). Additionally, the peak AT forces observed during the recreational players’ original technique was higher, though not significantly, than those observed for elite players (55 ± 11 N/kg, p = 0.017). / = 0.016 due to a Bonferroni correction. These findings indicate that recreational badminton players that normally land with the foot in a neutral position, may reduce their AT load by 25% when adopting the SKJ technique of elite players and land with the leg/foot in an externally rotated position.

Key words: Biomechanics, foot work, scissor kick jump

Key Points
  • The Achilles tendon load is influenced by the rotation of the lower leg when badminton players perform scissor kick jump on the rear court in badminton.
  • The subgroup of recreational players in the present study reduced their AT landing forces significantly when adapting the scissor-kick jump technique, traditionally employed by elite players, without compromising performance parameters such as jump height.
  • The AT landing forces of recreational badminton players who perform forehand jump strokes with minimum upper-body rotation, may exceed those elite players experience during scissor-kick jump landings.
  • These findings suggest that badminton coaches should focus on upper-body rotation during forehand jump strokes to facilitate the external leg/foot position in the subsequent landing, to lower AT forces and potentially the risk of sustaining an AT injury.








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