Clinicians must understand the sport’s demands when developing rehabilitation programs for athletes. In this series, Helen Bayne will discuss the foundational biomechanical aspects of sports and provide guidance to ensure that rehabilitation meets those demands and reduces the chance of re-injury. In part one, Helen discusses force plates, their use, and applicability within the clinical rehabilitation context.
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) shoots an open jump shot during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll
Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is undergoing a technological transformation, with affordable and easy-to-use devices widely available to assess multiple performance parameters. The technological advancements in SEM open the possibilities for utilizing objective measures to support clinical decision-making. However, it requires practitioners to understand how to interpret and analyze the data collected.
Practitioners assess jumping performance to guide rehabilitation progression and return to sport (RTS) decisions(1, 2). However, underlying mechanical deficits may persist even after athletes regain overall performance. For example, a single leg hop for distance on the injured limb may match the uninjured limb despite differences in knee joint angles and kinetics during landing(3). In addition, during bilateral tasks, such as the countermovement jump (CMJ), interlimb asymmetries in force production are present after severe lower limb injury (4,5). These deficits are potential contributors to the increased risk of re-injury as the ability to generate force and withstand loads during dynamic sports activities may be compromised.
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