Drop jump landing knee valgus angle; normative data in a physically active population

Objective:Establish normative values for knee valgus angle during drop jump and step landings.

Design:Observational.

Setting:University biomechanics laboratory.

Participants:100 physically active asymptomatic individuals (50 male, 50 female) aged 18-28 years old.

Main outcome measures:Knee valgus angle during drop jump and step landings.

Results:There were no differences between genders during the step landing task (p < 0.12) but there were differences during the drop jump landing task (p < 0.048). Both males and females showed no significant differences between sides for either of the tasks (p > 0.05) or between the valgus angle generated for either of the tasks (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:It would appear in order to be regarded as an average "normal" performance during a drop jump landing task knee valgus angle should be symmetrical and in the range of 7-13 degrees for females and 3-8 degrees for males. For a unilateral step landing task knee valgus angle should be symmetrical and in the range of 5-12 degrees for females and 1-9 degrees for males.