COMPARISON BETWEEN GROUND REACTION FORCE PATTERNS AND ANGULAR, APPROACH, AND BALL VELOCITIES FOR IN-STEP KICKING

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if patterns in vertical ground reaction forces resulted in differences in hip, knee and trunk angular velocity and efficiency of the open kinetic chain. 20 subjects performed a maximal in-step kick while ground reaction forces of the plant leg, as well as angular, approach and ball velocities were recorded. Although approach and ball velocity did not change between groups, the decreasing vertical force group had significantly higher initial peak vertical ground reaction forces and angular hip velocities than subjects with a double vertical peak pattern. There was a significant relationship between approach velocity and ball velocity, as well as a negative relationship between posterior lean on contact and leg angular velocity. It seems that the pattern of vertical force with the plant leg is not a key factor in ball velocity.