THE EFFECTS OF LIFTING THE ROTATIONAL AXIS ON SWING SPEED OF THE INSTEP

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that expert soccer players lifted the trochanter major rotational axis of the swing leg faster before impact to increase the speed of the swing leg. This movement pattern is referred to as "lifting the rotational axis of the swing leg". To examine this hypothesis, an experiment and computer simulation was carried out. The results were as follows: (1) Experts were found to lift the rotational axis of the swing leg to a greater degree than novices. (2) Computer simulations of the swing leg, developed by combining data of torque patterns data of the thigh and the leg from the novices with kinematic data of the trochanter major from the expert group, resulted in a slight increase in swing speed. When the kinematic data from the most accomplished expert alone was used, a remarkable increase in swing speed was seen. These results suggest the movement pattern such as lifting the rotational axis of the swing leg was useful in increasing the swing speed.