{"title":"Exploring the associations of femoral neck anteversion and alpha angle with dynamic muscle function patterns in soccer players: a functional principal component analysis.","authors":"Tomonari Sugano, Ryo Kuboshita, Toru Tanabe, Nobuhide Azuma, Tomomi Nomura, Seigaku Hayashi, Masahito Hitosugi","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2733974","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2026.2733974","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this exploratory cross-sectional study, the influence of femoral neck anteversion (FNA) and alpha angle on qualitative patterns of dynamic hip muscle function was investigated in male soccer players on qualitative patterns of dynamic hip muscle function was investigated in male soccer players. Twenty-six male field players underwent magnetic resonance imaging and isokinetic dynamometry (180°/s) to obtain hip torque-angle curves. Functional principal component analysis extracted principal patterns of variation (PCs), and Spearman's correlation determined associations between morphology and PC scores. FNA was significantly and negatively correlated with the third Principal Component (PC3) score during adduction of the preferred kicking leg (ρ = -0.57, <i>p</i> = .004). PC3 reflected the mathematical degree of bimodality; thus, higher anteversion (less retroversion) was associated with a more unimodal (smoother) pattern. No significant associations were found for the alpha angle. In conclusion, FNA shows a strong association with a qualitative hip adduction torque strategy in soccer players. The bimodal pattern linked to femoral retroversion is hypothesised to represent a neuromuscular adaptation to skeletal constraints. While this 'morphology-function linkage' offers a new theoretical perspective for understanding injury risk, longitudinal validation is strictly required before these findings can guide individualised clinical screening or training programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148978494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of targeted lower-limb exercises on biomechanical and neuromuscular risk factors associated with medial tibial stress syndrome.","authors":"Ayman Bouamama, Bora Büyüksaraç","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2730655","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2026.2730655","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) is linked to biomechanical risk factors such as high tibial loading, often influenced by underlying motor control strategies. Active interventions utilising multiplanar loading to retrain motor control may reduce tibial loading, yet their effects remain unclear, particularly whether they induce fatigue or beneficial potentiation. This study randomised 20 active individuals to single-leg lateral hops (SLLH) or controlled step-downs (CSD) interventions. Kinetic, kinematic, and electromyographic adaptations were assessed via a standardised jump-landing task executed pre- and post-intervention. Post-SLLH, the dominant leg exhibited a compliance shift, with reductions in loading rate (-21.4%; <i>p</i> = 0.004) and impulse (-16.1%) coupled with increased knee flexion range of motion. The non-dominant leg demonstrated enhanced neuromuscular efficiency, showing improved postural stability (centre of pressure displacement: -19.0%; <i>p</i> = 0.032) Coupled with reductions in muscle activation (Tibialis Anterior AUC: -35.8%; <i>p</i> = 0.004). Controlled step-downs elicited localised proximal control changes, including increased hip flexion, but did not alter kinetic impact factors. These findings suggest SLLH acts as a potentiating neuromuscular primer that reorganises motor control into limb-specific strategies of mechanical compliance and neural efficiency, positioning it as a superior method for influencing MTSS risk factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Release mechanics underlying pitch location and extreme control failures in major league baseball.","authors":"Toshiyuki Aoyama, Koichi Iwai, Yutaka Kohno","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2731486","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2026.2731486","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Precision in pitch location is a fundamental component of pitching performance in baseball. However, it remains unclear whether normal pitch control and extreme control failures arise from shared or distinct biomechanical mechanisms. This study quantified the influence of ball release parameters on pitch location and investigated whether extreme control failures share release-control mechanisms with normal pitch control or reflect distinct biomechanical processes. We analysed Major League Baseball Statcast data from 2020-2025, including 1,389 pitchers and 1,171,783 four-seam fastballs. Four release parameters (release position X, Z, release extension and arm angle) were modelled using linear mixed-effects models (LMM) to analyse horizontal and vertical pitch locations, and generalised LMM to analyse extreme high-left and low-right pitches. Pitcher identity was included as a random intercept. All four parameters contributed significantly to pitch location and extreme pitches, with release extension the strongest predictor. While both extreme pitch types were associated with a common set of release parameters, the contribution of pitcher-specific factors was greater for extreme low-right pitches. These findings suggest that normal pitch location and extreme control failures share common release-control dimensions and highlight the importance of pitcher-specific characteristics. The results provide a biomechanical basis for individualised coaching interventions to improve control consistency.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mauricio Barramuño-Medina, Pablo Aravena-Sagardia, Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Jordan Hernandez-Martinez, Edgar Vásquez-Carrasco, Tatiana Romero-Arias, Wilson Pastén-Hidalgo, Germán Gálvez-García
{"title":"Motor inhibition during a sport-specific taekwondo kicking task: behavioural, neuromuscular, and biomechanical responses.","authors":"Mauricio Barramuño-Medina, Pablo Aravena-Sagardia, Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Jordan Hernandez-Martinez, Edgar Vásquez-Carrasco, Tatiana Romero-Arias, Wilson Pastén-Hidalgo, Germán Gálvez-García","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2731265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2026.2731265","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study characterised the behavioural, neuromuscular, and biomechanical responses elicited during a sport-specific Go/No-Go kicking task and examined whether these responses differed according to Taekwondo expertise. Twenty-eight Taekwondo athletes (14 novice, 14 advanced; mean age = 16.6 ± 4.8 years) performed a field-based roundhouse-kick task. Reaction time, ground reaction force, kinematics, movement time, and electromyographic activity were recorded and analysed using mixed-effects models. Advanced athletes showed faster reaction times and fewer omission errors in Go trials; although overall No-Go accuracy was similar across groups, advanced athletes showed fewer partial inhibitory responses. Significant expertise × stimulus interactions were observed for jerk, take-off latency, and movement time. Advanced athletes exhibited greater dynamic output and shorter movement times during Go trials, while groups converged during No-Go trials. Electromyographic amplitude was lower in No-Go than Go trials, with minimal expertise effects. Overall, expertise-related differences were primarily observed in behavioural performance and movement dynamics, whereas neuromuscular responses associated with response suppression were largely comparable across expertise levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Di Wang, Anu M Valtonen, Tom Thiel, Ying Gao, Juha-Pekka Kulmala
{"title":"Cluster-based identification of movement patterns in bilateral and unilateral drop jump tasks: insights into the performance-injury conflict.","authors":"Di Wang, Anu M Valtonen, Tom Thiel, Ying Gao, Juha-Pekka Kulmala","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2727081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2026.2727081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stiff landing mechanics has been associated with increased anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk, yet it may optimise jump performance, creating a theoretical performance-injury conflict. This study examined movement patterns, their consistency, and performance during two-leg drop vertical jumps (DVJ) and single-leg drop vertical jumps (SDVJ). Forty-six healthy adults completed 3D motion analysis of DVJ from 30 cm and SDVJ from 15 cm, along with isokinetic knee torque testing. Ten ACL injury-related biomechanical variables were analysed using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering. Clustering based on movement mechanics revealed three patterns: high-stiffness (shorter contact time, reduced joint flexion, greater joint moments and vertical GRF), medium-stiffness, and soft-stiffness (longer contact time, deeper flexion, lowest moments and GRF). Jump height did not differ between clusters, and 46% of participants changed pattern between tasks. Isokinetic knee extensor torque differed between the high- and soft-stiffness groups only in SDVJ, with greater values in the high-stiffness group. A separate performance-based classification (median split) revealed large differences in jump height-up to twofold-yet no difference in peak vertical GRF. These findings highlight the need for task-specific assessments that consider both discrete metrics and propulsive force production when identifying at-risk athletes while preserving performance potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1-20"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148907779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports BiomechanicsPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-03-27DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2026.2649469
Han Zhang, Yuhong Wen, He Bu, Huachen Zhu, Mengna Han, Jinyu Liu
{"title":"Kinematic determinants of the Tomoa skip starting in elite male speed climbing athletes.","authors":"Han Zhang, Yuhong Wen, He Bu, Huachen Zhu, Mengna Han, Jinyu Liu","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2649469","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2649469","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the kinematic characterise of the Tomoa skip start in speed climbing. Eleven male athletes were analysed using the Fastmove 3D Motion system to quantify their joint angles, temporal parameters and contact point characteristics. The start phase was divided into three distinct stages: the pre-swing, push and climbing stages. The results revealed that lower limb joint angles demonstrated a stronger correlation with start performance than upper limb angles throughout the entire phase. Notably, joint angles during the climbing stage exhibited the greatest influence on start time. Additionally, shorter limb contact times were associated with better start performance. These findings suggest that technical models for the Tomoa skip start should prioritise lower body kinematics and minimising ground contact to optimise performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1424-1439"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147522581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports BiomechanicsPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-03-10DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2026.2641609
Paul Galantine, Anthony Sudlow, Giovanna Del Sordo, Arnaud Hays, Denis Bertin, Freddy Maso, Pierre Samozino, Nicolas Peyrot, Pascale Duché
{"title":"Sport-specific sprint force-velocity-power profiles in youth athletes: maturity matters.","authors":"Paul Galantine, Anthony Sudlow, Giovanna Del Sordo, Arnaud Hays, Denis Bertin, Freddy Maso, Pierre Samozino, Nicolas Peyrot, Pascale Duché","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2641609","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2641609","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined whether different sports (athletics, football, rugby, handball) influence sprint performance and force-velocity-power (F-v-P) profiles according to maturity status. 120 male youth (30 per sport; aged 12.0-16.9 years), matched for chronological age and maturity offset (MO), performed two maximal 30-metre sprints. Sprint performance and F-v-P variables (<i>F</i><sub>0</sub>, <i>v</i><sub>0</sub>, <i>P</i><sub>max</sub>, <i>S</i><sub>FV</sub>) were calculated using Samozino's method from radar-derived velocity-time data and photocell splits. ANCOVA and regression analyses assessed the effects of sport, maturity, and their interaction. Significant main effects were observed for Sport and MO on all sprint performance variables (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Football and rugby players were faster than handball players and track sprinters over 10 metres, with football players fastest at 30 metres. MO × Sport interactions showed that football players had smaller sprint gains with maturation. A significant main effect of Sport was revealed for all F-v-P variables except for absolute <i>P</i><sub>max</sub> (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001). Handball players showed the most force-oriented profile, differing from football and rugby players. Maturation-related improvements in F-v-P variables were similar across sports. These results suggest that while F-v-P development is mainly driven by maturation, sprint performance is more influenced by sport-specific demands.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1360-1376"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147391489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports BiomechanicsPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-03-27DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2026.2648282
Marvin Zedler, Jan-Peter Goldmann, Tobias Alt, Bjoern Braunstein, Wolfgang Potthast
{"title":"Advancing the concept of technical ability of force application in sprint acceleration.","authors":"Marvin Zedler, Jan-Peter Goldmann, Tobias Alt, Bjoern Braunstein, Wolfgang Potthast","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2648282","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2648282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Technical ability of force application (sagittal force vector orientation) is considered a performance determinant in sprint acceleration, yet the underlying kinematics require further investigation. Sixteen elite male bobsleigh athletes performed unresisted and resisted (85 kg sled push) accelerations initiated with full effort, while ground reaction forces and kinematics were recorded for ground contacts 1 to 5. Ratio of forces (RF), body position, centre of mass velocity components, and lower limb segment rotations were examined for correlations and differences between acceleration tasks. RF was significantly associated with body position (unresisted: <i>r</i> = .82, <i>p</i> < .001; resisted: <i>r</i> = .83, <i>p</i> < .001) and extensional velocity components (unresisted: <i>r</i> = .83, <i>p</i> < .001; resisted: <i>r</i> = .90, <i>p</i> < .001). There was also a significant correlation between body position and extensional velocity component (unresisted: <i>r</i> = .98, <i>p</i> < .001; resisted: <i>r</i> = .84, <i>p</i> < .001) regardless of acceleration task. Shank orientation significantly explained variance in body position (unresisted: adj. R<sup>2</sup> = .86, <i>p</i> < .001; resisted: adj. R<sup>2</sup> = .81, <i>p</i> < .001). Resisted acceleration provoked greater RF and forward orientations as well as higher shares of extensional velocity components. To improve technical ability, practitioners should focus on manipulating body position to increase the extensional velocity component as well as on shank segment rotation in preparation for the ground contact phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1408-1423"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147522572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changes in muscle coordination during butterfly swimming at submaximal and maximal efforts.","authors":"Keisuke Kobayashi Yamakawa, Yasuo Sengoku, Hideki Takagi","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2653615","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2653615","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to clarify the changes in muscle coordination during butterfly swimming at different swimming speeds. Eight female swimmers performed 25 m butterfly at 60%, 80% and 100% effort. Two-dimensional motion analysis was conducted using video data. Surface electromyography was recorded from 12 muscles in the right upper limb, lower limb, and trunk, and muscle synergies were identified using non-negative matrix factorisation. The kinematic analysis showed that the catch phase of the arm stroke shortened with increasing speeds. For most swimmers, four muscle synergies were extracted across different speeds. The spatial components of the four synergies involved in the pull, push, recovery movements of the arm stroke and downward kick were similar across different speeds. In contrast, the drive timing of the three synergies changed earlier at the highest level of effort. In addition, the amount of earlier timing in Synergy 1 between 60% and 100% effort levels was positively correlated with the earlier start of the pull phase (<i>r</i> = 0.72, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, these findings indicate that speed-related kinematic changes are linked mainly to shifts in synergy timing rather than changes in individual muscle activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1465-1481"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports BiomechanicsPub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-04-06DOI: 10.1080/14763141.2026.2650627
Megan Gordon, Eddie Austin, Li-Shan Chou, Hyun Kyung Kim
{"title":"Task-specific plantar pressure adaptations in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome during dynamic activities: a systematic review.","authors":"Megan Gordon, Eddie Austin, Li-Shan Chou, Hyun Kyung Kim","doi":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2650627","DOIUrl":"10.1080/14763141.2026.2650627","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Altered plantar pressure distribution may be associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFP), particularly during dynamic activities; however, findings on task-specific adaptations remain inconsistent. A systematic search was conducted in major databases for articles published up to January 2025 using key terms on patellar/knee pain, plantar pressure, and foot loading. Studies were included if they compared plantar pressure variables between individuals with PFP and controls during walking, running, stair descent, squatting, or jumping. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. Across studies, findings varied in definition and magnitude. Six walking studies reported reduced medial forefoot pressure and increased medial heel contact in individuals with PFP. One prospective running study reported increased lateral heel and forefoot loading in those who developed PFP. A stair descent study reported greater midfoot and medial heel contact during step down, while squatting and jumping tasks reported asymmetrical loading patterns and shifts in centre of pressure. Overall, this review suggests task-specific plantar pressure alterations in individuals with PFP. However, the evidence remains limited, and heterogeneity in activity types, pressure systems, analysis methods, and study designs contributed to inconsistent findings. While some patterns may reflect changes in loading, causal relationships cannot be established, underscoring the need for prospective research.</p>","PeriodicalId":49482,"journal":{"name":"Sports Biomechanics","volume":" ","pages":"1324-1345"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147624343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}