Landing on one’s toes during jump-related exercises may reduce the risk of knee injuries, according to findings published in the Journal of Biomechanics.

Constant jumping and landing during sports can cause too much force on the knees, resulting in several injuries. In women’s basketball, one of the most common injuries a player can suffer is tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is located towards the middle of the knee and provides the joint with the most stability.

Recently, 14 female basketball players wore equipment and digital cameras on their legs, which recorded all their movements and muscle activity. In order to measure the amount of stress on their knees, the group was asked do a series of basketball drills, including jump-stop movements.

After completing the drills normally, the players then jumped higher and at a steeper angle, resulting in them landing on their toes and bending their knees.

The researchers discovered that the toe-landing technique decreased force on their knee joints by 56 percent. Also, when the girls jumped using this new landing method, they were able to jump one inch higher.

The team concluded that further research is necessary to determine if similar techniques would be able to prevent ACL injuries.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a torn ACL is the most common sports-related injuries for Americans aged 15 to 24 years.