A preliminary study into the effect of jumping–landing training and strength training on frontal plane projection angle

• Strength and jump–land training individually impacted on limb alignment.
• Nature on training influenced limb alignment during specific tasks.
• Training incorporating both elements would maximise impact across tasks.

The presence of increased knee valgus angles during functional tasks has been associated with a range of knee pathologies. A number of different exercise interventions have been undertaken to improve knee alignment during functional tasks. The most successful of these interventions are multi-modal incorporating both strength and jump–landing training. Little research has been undertaken to compare these elements individually to assess if success is due to an individual element or the training as a whole. The study assessed the between group effects of strength training or jump–landing training alone on knee valgus alignment during a number of functional tasks, using a cohort specific treatment superiority design. Thirty asymptomatic female participants undertook a 6 week (minimum 15 sessions) strength or jump–landing programme, the effects of which were examined by assessing for any change in frontal plane projection angle (FPPA) during single leg squat and landing and bilateral drop jump landing. Both training methods had positive effects of FPPA during some but not all of the tasks. Strength training brought about significant changes in FPPA during single leg squat and landing, whilst jump–landing training significantly influenced single leg landing and drop jump landing performance. The changes reported, therefore appear to be related to the nature of the training and the tasks undertaken during that training. The findings indicating that a combined training protocol incorporating both strengthening and jump–landing training may bring about the greatest improvement across a spectrum of tasks for the patient, supporting the previous work on multimodal training.