Many sporting activities, from running to Artistic Gymnastics, involve a landing component. Several factors may contribute to the frequency and severity of injuries during landing including body position at the instant of touchdown, performance execution and the landing surface (McNitt-Gray, 2000). In Artistic Gymnastics the landing mat is standardised by the international governing body (F.I.G.) and the standards are based upon the need to establish uniformity of the equipment used during competition ratherthan purely musculo-skeletal issues (McNitt-Gray, 2000). A better landing mat may exist that could reduce injury risk whilst allowing the gymnast to maintain a landing technique that minimises landing deductions. The aim of this study is to determine the material properties of a landing mat that minimise internal loading and external forces experienced by the gymnast during landing.
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