Risk of injury prediction during landing from 33 cm height: Kinetic approach for sports application

Objectives: Jump-landing assessments measure an individual’s ability to absorb ground reaction forces, generate explosive lower limb power, and maintain joint alignment, all of which are critical to understanding sports injury risk. Footwear significantly affects jumping mechanics and injury potential, leading to increased interest in activities done barefoot. This study investigates kinetic responses and injury risks when landing from a height of 33 cm, comparing conditions with and without sports shoes. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five healthy young adults were volunteers for this study. Kinetic parameters were recorded and processed using Quattro Jump force plat and Mars Quarter performance analysis software. Data were summarised into mean ± standard deviation values and statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences-26. Results: The without and with shoe jumping data show scattered parameters, with maximum forces of 4450.84 N and 3892.60 N at 33 cm, indicating a 62.45% and 54.6% risk of metatarsal injury, respectively. The stabilisation force was 623.96 N and 632.20 N at 33 cm, reached at 0.58 s and 0.63 s, respectively. Time from max force to max force before stabilisation regression analysis indicated a low R-squared value and a random fit plot. Conclusion: In the barefoot condition, initial contact force and max force were 28.57% (120 N) and 13.38% (4,450.84 N) higher, respectively, compared to the shoe condition (90 N and 3,892.60 N). However, the stabilisation force was higher with shoes (632.20 N) than barefoot (623.96 N). This suggests a higher risk of musculoskeletal injuries and joint stress when barefoot due to the higher forces while wearing shoes enhances balance and stability through increased stabilisation force.