Exertion of forces by children performing a free-style jump

Abstract

This research project focuses on the force characteristics and force/time relationships of loads exerted by jumping children. The current study is an experimental research into children jumping on both hard and soft substrates. The hard substrate is obtained by using a force plate. For the soft substrate a cellular rubber mat is placed on top of the force plate. The children, who varied in age from 4 to 14 years, wore shoes when jumping.|The results constitute various force-time relationships. These relationships are presented in the form of a graph of a typical jump, and the jumping parameters. The pushing-off force with a mat differed slightly from the pushing-off force without a mat. The landing force, however, was reduced by 25-30% when a mat was used. While girls exerted higher pushing-off force, boys exerted higher landing force.

Key words:

• Jumping
• safety
• biomechanics
• children
• force