Lower Extremity Stiffness: Effects on Performance and Injury and Implications for Training

ABSTRACT: THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS RESEARCH TO DATE ON LOWER EXTREMITY STIFFNESS RELATIVE TO ITS EFFECTS ON PERFORMANCE AND INJURY. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT AN OPTIMAL AMOUNT OF LOWER EXTREMITY STIFFNESS IS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE, AS TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE CAN BE DETRIMENTAL AND POSSIBLY INJURY INDUCING. METHODS OF MEASURING LOWER EXTREMITY STIFFNESS AND FAST STRETCH-SHORTENING CYCLE PERFORMANCE ARE SUGGESTED. IN TERMS OF TRAINING, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A COMBINATION OF STRENGTH AND PLYOMETRIC TRAINING BE PERFORMED, AS WELL AS CORRECT EXECUTION OF LANDING MECHANICS TO IMPROVE INTERMUSCULAR COORDINATION AND TO AVOID INJURY-PROVOKING DOMINANT AGONIST-TO-ANTAGONIST COACTIVATION RATIOS.