External focus of attention influences the performance–injury risk conflict during drop jumps

Purpose: Protective landing strategies against non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have intuitively been associated with decreased performance outcomes, but inconsistencies in the literature persist. This study investigated this potential trade-off, analyzing lower limb kinematics and jump key metrics during single-leg drop jumps across three external focus conditions: natural (unrestricted), fast (performance-focused), and soft (landing control-focused). Methods: Thirty-one amateur athletes (18–30 years) executed 3 trials per condition per limb. First and second landing peak knee abduction and flexion angles were recorded using a 9-camera optoelectronic system, while jump height and contact time were obtained through a contact platform. The effect of condition was investigated using a one-way MANOVA. Results: Condition had significant effects (p < 0.001) on first landing knee flexion (η2p = 0.613), jump height (η2p = 0.295), and contact time (η2p = 0.698). The soft condition resulted in the greatest knee flexion, the longest contact time, and the lowest jump height. The remaining variables (first landing knee abduction and second landing knee abduction and flexion) revealed no statistically significant effects across conditions. Conclusion: The findings suggest that focusing on landing control may produce movement patterns possibly associated with reduced risk of ACL injuries, potentially decreasing excessive loads on knee tissues, but at the same time eliciting detrimental consequences to overall performance. This approach could provide a more comprehensive perspective on injury risk screening, highlighting the need for context-specific screening and training to balance injury prevention and performance.