THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX, PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND THE RISK OF KNEE INJURY DURING LANDING IN TEAM SPORT ATHLETES
Keywords:
LESS Score, Injuries, School athletesAbstract
An inappropriate body mass index (BMI) may increase mechanical loading on the knee joint and is associated with reduced physical fitness, potentially leading to injury, especially from improper landing after a jump in team sports. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a validated tool used to assess movement mechanics and predict the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between BMI, physical fitness, and LESS scores among team sport athletes from the Patumwan Demonstration School, Srinakharinwirot University. Forty-nine student-athletes (31 males and 18 females) were tested for physical
fitness and evaluated for knee injury risk using the LESS protocol. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that body weight was positively correlated with height and muscular power but negatively correlated with speed and agility. BMI showed a negative correlation with agility and speed, and a weak positive correlation with flexibility.However, no statistically significant correlation was found between BMI and LESS scores. These findings suggest that physical attributes such as BMI or general physical fitness may not sufficiently explain landing errors. Instead,neuromuscular control and movement technique appear to play a more critical role in influencing LESS outcomes
and the associated risk of knee injury.
(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2025; 25 ((Online Edition 2))
(Received: 5 June 2025, Revised: 9 September 2025, Accepted: 15 September 2025)
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