It’s highly likely that your sport involves some kind of jumping. And everything that goes up must come down. Right?
When you land, high amounts of force are absorbed through the lower extremities of your body. In fact, forces of nearly 5 times your body weight can be experienced. Add an opponent barging into you as you compete for a ball in the air and these landing forces go higher still.
A proper landing technique is critical. It allows you to cushion your body from shock using you muscles. Which is good. A poor one, and your ligaments and cartilage in your joints take the load. This is not good.
Injuries occur when the body doesn’t absorb force correctly. So if you’re landing poorly over and over again your risk of injury will go through the roof.
According to research, 70% of all anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur when landing from a jump. And if you’re female, you’re six times more likely to tear one than a male.
When done correctly, strength training teaches correct landing technique. It automates the body to land properly even when you’re not consciously thinking about it. Which is exactly what you want when you’re out there going hard in your sport.
It will also make your jump higher. I’m sure you’re like that.
