Abstract
Background: Lower limb injuries in athletes frequently arise from poor movement mechanics and neuromuscular control, underscoring the importance of early identification of biomechanical deficiencies to prevent injury. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) and the Modified Tuck Jump Assessment (MTJA) are established screening tools: LESS assesses landing mechanics, while MTJA evaluates neuromuscular control during repeated jumps.
Objectives: This study analyzes the most frequent biomechanical errors in university athletes using LESS and MTJA and explores their correlation and level of agreement to determine whether they should be used interchangeably or as complementary tools.
Method: A Cross-sectional study which includes 42 athletes (Age = 21.16 ± 2.21 years, Height = 173.99 ± 10.50 cm, Weight = 67.05 ± 13.24 kg, BMI = 22.07 ± 3.42 kg/m2) involved in lower limb dominant sports like volleyball and handball were analyzed using MTJA and LESS.
Results: Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated no statistically significant correlation between MTJA and LESS scores (r = 0.179, p = 0.257). The most frequent biomechanical errors observed were Overall Impression errors (98.8%), Trunk Flexion at Maximum Knee Flexion (70.9%), Joint Displacement (68.6%), Foot Position – Toe Out (65.1%), and Knee Valgus Displacement (62.7%). Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated poor agreement between the two assessment tools.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that MTJA and LESS assess different aspects of lower limb biomechanics and neuromuscular control and therefore should not be considered interchangeable assessment tools. Combining both assessments may provide a broader evaluation of injury risk factors and movement deficiencies in athletes.
Keywords
Movement screening, Biomechanical errors, Neuromuscular control, Landing mechanics