In addition to throwing and running disciplines, athletics also offers jumping disciplines. These jumping disciplines are composed of two high jump and long jump types each, whose norms have been changed over time. These four disciplines are high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump.
High Jump
In the modern high jump, after a curved run-up, the athlete jumps over a bar that is as high as possible and four meters long, which falls at the slightest touch. The world record is 2.45 for men and 2.09m for women. The athlete lands on his back on a soft mat. The first high jump competitions were held by the Celts. Today’s competition rules were established in England as early as 1865. According to these rules, jumps may only be made with one foot, three attempts are allowed per height, and the bar may not be lowered after a failed attempt. While until 1936 the feet had to cross the bar first, today the so-called flop is common, where the head is the first part of the body. Generally with all jumping disciplines, complaints of the lumbar spine are in the foreground. Furthermore, the run-up can cause the same injuries as in sprinting. The most frequent injuries in high jumpers occur in the knee and ankle joints, and back complaints often arise in addition (also as a late consequence). During the jump, the adductors of the swing leg are particularly at risk. Possible long-term consequences are also ankle joint complaints and ligament ruptures.
Pole Vault
In pole vaulting, a stable pole is used to clear a bar that is as high as possible. The run-up is on a straight track that is at least 45m long and 1.22m wide. The length and thickness of the bar depends on the height, weight and strength of the athlete. Jumping with poles was already widespread in ancient times. While in Crete people jumped over bulls with the help of poles, Celts practiced pole long jump. Since 1775, German gymnasts have organized pole vaulting competitions. Mats to protect pole vaulters were not introduced until the 1960s. Even today, among the athletics disciplines, the risk for broken bones is highest in pole vaulting. As the most technically demanding athletic discipline, it is also the most dangerous, for example if the athlete lands next to the mat. Typical injuries in pole vaulting include dislocations of the shoulder joint and fractures in the shoulder area. The lumbar spine is also a particularly frequent source of discomfort. The patella and Achilles tendons are particularly stressed by the jump. In case of a possible underrun of the bar during the jump, there is a further risk of injury for the back, more precisely for the back extensor muscles.
Long Jump
The long jump is an attempt to jump as far as possible after a run-up phase, which is 40-50m for men and 30-40m for women. Each athlete has three attempts to do this, with the best eight getting another three attempts. In addition to the ancient Greeks, it has also been handed down from Asian peoples that they tried long jump competitions from time immemorial, whereby in the latter the legs were tightened and the thighs had to be kept perpendicular to the ground. Today, it is necessary to keep the feet horizontal and the torso bent. At the moment of landing, that is, when the foot touches the ground, it is necessary to push the hips forward as quickly as possible, since points are deducted when landing on the buttocks. (When measuring length, the first impression in the sandbox counts). At the beginning of the take-off phase, there is a braking effect which, in inexperienced jumpers, causes the risk of joint sprains at the knee and upper ankle. The calf muscles and the thigh flexors and extensors also frequently suffer injuries as a result. In addition, muscle fiber tears occur, especially in the thighs.
Triple Jump
The triple jump was ignored in Germany for a long time, although it is also an Olympic discipline. While in ancient times triple jump was understood as the summation of three individual jumps, the jumping sequence practiced today could be proven for the first time in 1465. In the course of time, however, the rules of the leg sequence have been varied again and again. Today, similar to the long jump, the jump is made at a take-off bar after a run-up of 35 to 42m.The first landing must be with the same leg that was used to jump off, with the second landing following on the other foot and a long jump-like leap completing the movement (also called “hop”, “step”, “jump”). The foot sequence must therefore be left-left-right or right-right-left. The risks of injury are generally the same as for the long jump and sprint, i.e. in particular muscle fiber tears and strains, ankle and knee injuries, as well as inflammation of the patellar tendon (and here especially at the distal patellar pole, leading to the so-called “jumper’s knee”).
