Application of Novel Inertial Technique to Compare the Kinematics and Kinetics of the Legs in the Soccer Instep Kick

Abstract

Application of Novel Inertial Technique to Compare the Kinematics and Kinetics of the Legs in the Soccer Instep Kick The kinematic and kinetic parameters of dominant and non-dominant legs examined with a new technology on 15 male, university soccer players in the field. A sensor module with special configuration of accelerometers placement, connected to a data logger, which attached to the shank and thigh, was applied to execute four instep kicks in the field. The angular velocity, linear velocity, angular acceleration and Z-axis linear acceleration (p<0.005) of the shank in dominant and non-dominant leg before impact were: 1970 ± 210, 1648 ± 300 °/s; 14.9 ± 3.0, 12.4 ± 2.6 m/s; 586.4 ± 121.9, 498.2 ± 160.4 rad/s2; 5.7 ± 1.7 and 4.0 ± 0.9 gravity, respectively. The leg swing time, force (X) (p<0.001), torque, angular momentum, angular power and angular impulse (p<0.05) of the shank, for dominant and non-dominant leg, before impact were: 271 ± 48 vs. 263 ± 62 msec; 172.4 ± 46.6 vs. 68.7 ± 47.1 N; 133.2 ± 29.8 vs. 111.8 ± 34.9 N.m.; 5.3 ± 1.1 vs. 4.1 ± 1.0 kg.m2/s; 2443 ± 666 vs. 1660 ± 790.1 W; 4.0 ± 0.9 vs. 3.3 ± 1.2 N.s., respectively. Even though there was lower shank angular velocity of the dominant leg compared with reported professional players, similar shape and gradient of the kicking pattern were found in the curves.