Purpose: Few scientific researchers have investigated how the shoe insole hardness regulates joint stiffness and transfer of energy in lower extremity during jump landing. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of shoe insole changes in joint power and stiffness during landing from jumps. Methods: 15 healthy male athletes volunteered to perform jump-landing in various shoe insole conditions. Kinematics and kinetics data were examined to calculate joint stiffness and peak negative power (absorbing power). Results: The results indicated the significant effect of shoe insole hardness on ankle joint stiffness (p ≤ 0.05). Based on the results, the shoe insert hardness increases ankle joint stiffness. The results indicate that soft insole increases peak negative power significantly compared to the hard insole condition (p=0.01). Conclusion: These findings suggest that increasing the shoe insert hardness can affect the distal ankle joint greater compared to the proximal joints. However, these results indicated that landing with soft shoe insoles increased the negative joint power during landing, which implied neuromuscular adaptation in response to the impact signals and elevated eccentric work done by the knee extensors.

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