In a previously presented study (Bruening & Richards, 2005) we compared jump landings of figure skaters using standard skating boots and articulated skating boots (in a repeated measures design). We showed decreases in peak heel impact forces and loading rates with use of the articulated skating boot and suggested that such decreases may translate into reduced overuse injury risks. We hypothesized that increased plantar flexion at the moment of impact would allow the triceps surae complex to slow the descent of the heel, resulting in a lower peak heel ground reaction force (Gross & Nelson, 1988; Self & Paine, 2001). Group means from our study that supported this hypothesis included increased plantar flexion angles at the moment of toe contact and increased times between toe and heel strike with use of the articulated skates. A retrospective analysis of the landing data revealed other important insights into individual landing strategies that were masked by the group analysis. These individual landing strategies may help explain the mechanisms through which joint restrictions (such as stiff figure skates) affect landing forces as well as how training methods can be used to help lower landing forces.
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