Article

Quick changes of direction during running (cutting) represent a whole body
mechanical challenge, as they require deceleration and translation of the body
during ongoing movement.
While much is known with respect to whole body demands
during walking turns, whole body mechanics and anticipatory adjustments necessary
for cutting are unclear. As the ability to rapidly change direction is critical
to athletes' success in many sports, a better understanding of whole body
adjustments made during cuts is needed. Whole body center of mass velocity and
position during the approach and execution steps of three tasks (straight
running, 45 degrees sidestep cut, and 90 degrees sidestep cut) performed as fast
as possible were compared in 25 healthy soccer athletes. Repeated measure ANOVA
revealed that overall, braking and translation were greater during the cuts
compared to the straight run. Interestingly, with systematically increased cut
angle, disproportionately greater braking but proportionately greater translation
was observed. Anticipatory adjustments made prior to the execution of the cuts
suggested that individuals evenly distributed the deceleration and redirection
demands across steps of the 45 degrees cut but prioritized deceleration over
translation during the approach step of the 90 degrees cut.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS