Active lower limb muscle volume increases when landing with body borne load

This study determined whether active lower limb muscle volume increased when landing with load and whether it differed between sexes or landing type. Twenty male and seventeen female participants had active hip, knee and ankle muscle volume quantified when performing normal and flexed landings with four body borne loads: 20, 25, 30 and 35 kg. Participants increased active muscle volume at the hip and ankle, but not knee when landing with load. However, females exhibited a greater increase in active hip muscle volume with load. Using greater lower limb flexion to land increased active hip muscle volume, and decreased active volume at the knee and ankle. But, only males appear to increase active hip muscle volume when using greater lower limb flexion to land.