Augmented Feedback Reduces Ground Reaction Forces in the Landing Phase of the Volleyball Spike Jump

CONTEXT: Frequency and magnitude of ground reaction forces (GRF) have been implicated in causing injuries such as "jumpers knee." OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a single session of augmented feedback concerning landing technique would decrease GRF. DESIGN: Pretest posttest experimental design. SETTING: University biomechanics laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen female Division 1 intercollegiate volleyball players. INTERVENTION: Participants were required to land on a force platform after spiking a volleyball from a four-step approach before and after an intervention involving visual and aural augmented feedback on correct jumping and landing technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mediolateral (ML), anterioposterior (AP), and vertical (V) GRF normalized to body weight (BW). RESULTS: Augmented feedback was found to significantly (P = 0.01) decrease VGRF by 23.6% but not ML (25%, P = 0.16) and AP (4.9%, P = 0.40) peak GRF. CONCLUSIONS: A single session of augmented feedback may be effective in reducing VGRF in collegiate athletes.