What type of injury can occur from landing heavily from a jump?

Landing heavily from a jump can lead to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury due to the sudden change in forces acting on the knee joint during the impact. When a person lands, especially if their landing position is not optimal (e.g., knees collapsing inward or landing on a straight knee), it can place excessive strain on the ACL. The ACL is crucial for stabilizing the knee during dynamic movements such as jumping and landing. If the load is too great, the ligament can tear, resulting in significant pain, swelling, and potentially instability in the knee.

The other options describe different types of knee injuries that may occur from varying activities, but they are less directly associated with the mechanics of heavy landings from jumps. For instance, while an MCL injury involves the medial collateral ligament and could occur from a traumatic side impact or overstretching, it is less common solely from a landing. Patellar tendonitis typically results from repetitive stress rather than an acute landing impact. A meniscus tear can occur with twisting motions or heavy loading but is not the primary risk from simply landing heavily.