What are Poor Landing or Cutting Mechanics?

Poor landing or cutting mechanics refer to improper body movements when landing from a jump or changing direction rapidly. These faulty techniques can increase stress on the knees and lead to serious injuries, particularly ACL and meniscus tears.

What happens with poor mechanics?

When the knee collapses inward (dynamic valgus) or the hip and core fail to stabilise, excessive load is placed on ligaments and cartilage. This increases the risk of traumatic knee injuries in sports that involve pivoting.

Common causes

  • Weak glutes and hip stabilisers
  • Poor neuromuscular control
  • Fatigue during sport
  • Previous ACL or knee injury
  • Lack of proper training in landing technique

Who is most affected?

  • Athletes in netball, basketball, football, and rugby
  • Female athletes (greater risk of ACL injury with poor mechanics)
  • Teenage athletes with rapid growth changes
  • In Australia, poor landing mechanics are strongly linked to ACL injuries in netball players

Symptoms of Poor Landing or Cutting Mechanics

  • Knee pain after jumping or cutting
  • Feeling of instability when landing
  • Frequent knee or ankle injuries
  • Visible inward collapse of knees during squats or jumps

📞 If you notice poor landing technique in your sport, book an assessment at Spinal and Sports Care Bella Vista or Parramatta.

Diagnosis

Movement screening (squat, jump, and landing assessments).

  • Video analysis to identify valgus collapse or poor control
  • Force plate testing for load distribution
  • Functional strength assessments

Treatment options

Non-surgical:

  • Neuromuscular retraining
  • Strengthening of glutes, hamstrings, and quads
  • Plyometric training with correct landing technique
  • Injury prevention programs (PEP, FIFA 11+, Netball Knee)

Surgical:

  • Not applicable unless a major injury has already occurred

Role of physiotherapy

  • Identify faulty landing or cutting mechanics
  • Correct biomechanics with targeted exercise
  • Implement prevention programs
  • Guide safe return-to-sport training

Recovery timeline

  • Mild correction: 4–6 weeks
  • Moderate to severe retraining: 3–6 months

Prevention

  • Neuromuscular training from an early age
  • Strengthening glutes, hamstrings, and quads
  • Incorporating balance and proprioception drills
  • Sport-specific injury prevention programs

Taping and bracing

  • Knee braces are sometimes used after injury to support the return to sport
  • Taping can provide feedback to improve landing control

When to see a physiotherapist or chiropractor

📞 If you notice repeated knee pain or poor control when landing or cutting, see Spinal and Sports Care for an injury prevention assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Incorrect movements when landing from jumps, often with knees collapsing inward.

They increase the risk of ACL and meniscus injuries.

Netball, basketball, football, and rugby.

Yes, due to biomechanics and higher ACL injury prevalence.

Through movement screening and video analysis.

Yes, with neuromuscular retraining and physiotherapy.

PEP, FIFA 11+, and Netball Knee programs are highly effective.

Not always, but they significantly increase risk.

4 weeks to 6 months, depending on severity.

If you notice repeated instability, poor control, or knee pain in sports.