Effect of Forefoot Strike on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity and Knee Joint Angle During Cutting in Female Team Handball Players.

Naruto Yoshida,Sonoko Mashimo,Tatsuya Hisajima,Shumpei Miyakawa,Akihiko Masunari,Shogo Miyazaki,Shun Kunugi,Yoshihiro Okuma

doi:10.1186/s40798-016-0056-x

Naruto Yoshida, Sonoko Mashimo + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-016-0056-x

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Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different strike forms, during cutting, on knee joint angle and lower limb muscle activity.MethodsSurface electromyography was used to measure muscle activity in individuals performing cutting manoeuvres involving either rearfoot strikes (RFS) or forefoot strikes (FFS). Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to calculate changes in knee angles, during cutting, and to determine the relationship between muscle activity and knee joint angle. Force plates were synchronized with electromyography measurements to compare muscle activity immediately before and after foot strike.ResultsThe valgus angle tends to be smaller during FFS cutting than during RFS cutting. Just prior to ground contact, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle activities were significantly greater during FFS cutting than during RFS cutting; tibialis anterior muscle activity was greater during RFS cutting. Immediately after ground contact, biceps femoris and lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle activities were significantly greater during FFS cutting than during RFS cutting; tibialis anterior muscle activity was significantly lower during FFS cutting.ConclusionsThe results of the present study suggest that the hamstrings demonstrate greater activity, immediately after foot strike, during FFS cutting than during RFS cutting. Thus, FFS cutting may involve a lower risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury than does RFS cutting.

Highlights

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different strike forms, during cutting, on knee joint angle and lower limb muscle activity
No significant differences were observed in peak knee flexion angles, rotation angles, or ground reaction force (GRF) peaks between forefoot strikes (FFS) and rearfoot strikes (RFS) cutting (Tables 1 and 2)
The valgus angle tends to be smaller during FFS cutting than during RFS cutting (p = 0.06)

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different strike forms, during cutting, on knee joint angle and lower limb muscle activity. Playing handball requires advanced and varied movements; cutting, jump landing, and other quick movements may result in ACL injuries [5]. In a comparison of FFSs and RFSs during running, Lieberman et al [10] demonstrated differences in the amount of ground reaction force (GRF) absorbed by the body They reported that runners who use FFSs generate smaller collision forces than do those using RFSs. They reported that runners who use FFSs generate smaller collision forces than do those using RFSs This difference results primarily from a more plantarflexed foot, at landing, and more ankle compliance, during impact; this decreases the effective mass of the body that collides with the ground

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