Objectives To determine whether differences in landing force and asymmetry of landing force exist between gymnasts at the time of data collection versus those that subsequently experienced an ankle injury 12-months later. Study design Prospective longitudinal observational design with baseline measures and 12 month follow up. Setting British Gymnastics National Training Centre. Participants Thirty-two asymptomatic elite level gymnasts from three artistic gymnastic squads (n = 15 senior female, n = 10 junior female and n = 7 senior male). Main outcome measures A modified drop land task was used to quantify measures of landing performance. Peak Vertical Ground Reaction Force (PVGRF) was used to measure landing force. The level of inter-limb asymmetry of landing force was calculated using the Limb Symmetry index (LSI). Other measures included injury incidence and percentage coefficient of variation (% CV). Results There was no statistical difference for landing force (p = 0.481) and asymmetry of landing force (p = 0.698) when comparing injured and non-injured gymnasts. Most participants (69%) demonstrated inter-limb asymmetry of landing forces. Conclusions Our findings observed inter-limb asymmetry of landing force in injured gymnasts, although uninjured gymnasts also exhibited asymmetry of landing force. Both magnitude of landing force and inter-limb asymmetries of landing force failed to identify the risk of ankle injury. Highlights • Asymmetrical loading patterns were observed in elite gymnasts during a modified drop land test. • Comparing injured and non-injured gymnasts, no statistical differences existed for landing force and asymmetry of such. • Findings do not support the assumption that higher landing force and greater asymmetry of such increase ankle injury risk.
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