The Comparison of Lower Extremity Malalignment during Hurdle pre-Flight and Traditional Approach at Forward Diving Straight

Background: Approach on the diving springboard provides the initial conditions for the disturbance in the stability of the base of support. The present study is a correlational study conducted to obtain complete and accurate information by examining “the relationship between diving score and dynamic malalignment of Hip, Knee, and Ankle on a 1 m springboard by elite male divers.” Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, the subjects of this study were the 12 top divers of the Iranian League Championship in summer 2016. The passive or reflective markers were attached to the posterior surface of subjects’ bodies. The subjects performed Forward Diving Straight (FDS) technique in one of two ways, either the “Hurdle Pre-Flight” or “Hurdle Flight”, and the head coach gave them scores. The x and y coordinates of each marker were estimated using KINOVEA software. The relationship among the performance score of “FDS” and dynamic malalignment of Ankle, Knee, and Hip joints in the frontal plane at each step was determined using “Generalized Estimating Equation” (GEE) with the “Identity Function” and the “Normal Distribution”. Results: The Results of GEE modeling showed that there was a significant inverse relationship between FDS score and “L. The mean ankle inversion in the (Hurdle pre-Flight) HPF approach was higher than Traditional (TRD). There was a significant inverse relationship between the FDS score and “L. Hip Add.” The results of GEE modeling showed that there was a significant difference between mean scores of TRD-FDS (4.39±0.33) and HPF-FDS (5.67±0.33) approach (P=0.000) Conclusion: There was a significant inverse relationship between FDS score and “Ankle Eversion/ Eversion, Knee and Hip Abduction/ Adduction” in Swing or Stance Leg.