You can perform these two jumps as shown in the figure:
Normal jump — Bend knees and ankles naturally.
How did your ankle, knee and hip positions differ between the two jumps?
The differences observed between the two jumps are as follows:
(1) Straight-leg jump (Stiff knees and ankles): In this case, the knees and ankles remain rigid with little or no bending, and the hip joint also bends very little. Since the joints do not bend naturally, the impact of landing is not absorbed properly by the body. As a result, the landing feels harder and less comfortable.
(2) Normal jump (Knees and ankles bent naturally): In this case, the ankles, knees and hip joint bend naturally before take-off and during landing. During take-off, these joints straighten to push the body upward. This coordinated movement helps absorb shock and distribute the force evenly, making the movement smoother and more efficient.
Thus, natural bending of the ankle, knee and hip joints allows better balance, flexibility and shock absorption during movement.
