Lowering minimum eye height to increase peak knee and hip flexion during landing

The purpose was to determine the effect of lowering minimum eye height through an externally focused object on knee and hip flexion and impact forces during jump-landing. Kinematics and ground reaction forces were collected when 20 male and 19 female participants performed jump-landing trials with their natural minimum eye height, and trials focusing on lowering their minimum eye height to an external object, which was set at 5% or 10% of standing height lower. Participants demonstrated decreased minimum eye height and increased peak knee and hip flexion during early-landing and stance phase when focusing on lowering eye height to the external object (p < 0.01). Peak vertical ground reaction forces during early-landing also decreased for the greater force group (p < 0.001). Jump-landing training through manipulating eye height provides a strategy that involves an external focus and intrinsic feedback, which may have advantages in promoting learning and practical application.