Landing Error Scoring System scores change with knowledge of scoring criteria and prior performance

To examine if the knowledge of scoring criteria and prior performance influence Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) outcomes.

Cross-sectional.

Laboratory.

Thirty individuals.

The LESS was tested at Baseline and one week later under two conditions: Pre and Post information. For the Post condition, LESS items were explained to participants, as were their individual Baseline scores. Mean LESS scores and number of individuals categorized at high and low risk were compared between Pre and Post using paired t-tests and McNemar's tests, respectively. McNemar's tests were also used to compare proportions of specific LESS errors between Pre and Post conditions.

Mean LESS Post scores (4.7 ± 1.2 errors) were significantly lower than Pre scores (6.6 ± 2.0 errors, p < 0.001) as was the number of individuals at high risk (25 vs 10 participants, p < 0.001). A significantly lower proportion of participants scored an error for the joint displacement item of LESS Post compared to Pre condition (p < 0.001).

When using the LESS, it is important that tested individuals have no knowledge of scoring criteria or previous errors for a valid assessment of innate jump-landing movement patterns and injury risk.