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.