Mechanical work performed by distal foot-ankle and proximal knee-hip segments during anticipated and unanticipated cutting

Human foot muscle strength and its association with sprint acceleration, cutting and jumping performance, and kinetics in high-level athletes

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPj) flexion torque and sprint acceleration, cutting and jumping performance, and kinetics. A secondary aim was to explore this relationship when MTP flexion strength was associated with other foot and lower limb neuromuscular outputs. After an initial MTPj flexion torque assessment using a custom-built dynamometer, 52 high-level athletes performed the following tasks on a force platform system: maximal sprint acceleration, 90-degree cutting, vertical and horizontal jumps, and foot-ankle hops. Their foot posture, foot passive stiffness and foot-ankle reactive strength were assessed using the Foot Posture Index, the Arch Height Index Measurement System and the Foot-Ankle Rebound Jump Test. Ankle plantarflexion and knee extension isometric torque were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. During maximal speed sprinting, multiple linear regressions suggested a major contribution of MTPj flexion torque, foot passive stiffness and foot-ankle reactive strength to explain 28% and 35% of the total variance in the effective vertical impulse and contact time. Ankle plantarflexor and quadriceps isometric torques were aggregately contributors of acceleration performance and separate contributors of cutting and jumping performance. In conclusion, MTPj flexion torque was more strongly associated with sprinting performance kinetics especially at high-speed.

Effects of movement direction and limb dominance on ankle muscular force in sidestep cutting

Sidestep cutting is a critical movement in sports. However, biomechanical research on sidestep cutting has not hitherto reached a consensus. In order to investigate the effects of limb dominance and movement direction on ankle and subtalar joints during sidestep cutting, twelve physically active male participants were recruited in the present study. Trajectory and ground reaction force data were collected by the motion capture system and force platform. Kinematics, kinetics, and muscle forces information were obtained by running OpenSim. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed with movement direction and limb dominance as independent variables. We found that movement direction had a significant effect on ankle dorsiflexion angle. In contrast, the factor of limb dominance had no effect on ankle and subtalar joints angles. For ankle joint moment, the plantarflexion moment was greater by performing a 45° sidestep cutting or using the dominant limb, while the subtalar joint moment was not affected by these two variables. In terms of muscle forces, the soleus of the dominant limb generated greater plantarflexion muscle force on the sagittal plane, while the non-dominant limb tended to contract more strongly (peroneus longus and peroneus brevis) on the frontal plane to stabilize the subtalar joint. Meanwhile, a smaller sidestep cutting angle made participants generate greater plantarflexion muscle forces (soleus and gastrocnemius). In conclusion, our findings indicated that participants should take limb dominance and movement direction into consideration for enhancing athletic performance and reducing the risk of injury during sidestep cutting.

Lower-limb stiffness mediates speed but not turning angle during unplanned side-step cutting

An inability to pre-plan a side-step cutting maneuver results in a greater reduction in speed and shallower cut angle. Although leg stiffness has not been directly quantified in cutting, indirect evidence suggest that greater stiffness may benefit cutting speed, but lower stiffness may benefit cut angle. No studies have investigated if stiffness causally mediates the relationship between anticipation, cutting speed and angle. The aims of the present study were to determine the influence of anticipatory cues on leg stiffness, and quantify the mediation effects of stiffness on cutting speed and angle. Seventeen healthy participants performed a 45° cut at an approach speed of 4 m/s. Leg stiffness (% bodyweight/leg length [BW/LL]), cutting angle and change in running speed between initial contact and toe-off of the cut were calculated. Causal mediation analysis was performed with anticipatory cues as the independent variable, cutting speed and angle as the dependent variables, and stiffness as the mediator. Unanticipated cutting significantly increased leg stiffness (β=3.82%BW/LL,P=0.005) compared to anticipated cutting. The average causal mediation effect of stiffness on cutting angle was not significant (P = 0.68). The average causal mediation effect of stiffness on cutting speed was significant (-0.02 m/s [95%CI -0.04 to 0.00 m/s, P = 0.016). Reduced preplanning time in cutting increased leg stiffness. Alterations in leg stiffness only explained the change in speed, and not angle, associated with cutting under different anticipatory cues. Loss of speed when cutting is unplanned may be mitigated by improving leg stiffness.