This study investigates how interlimb joint coordination influences foot speed during soccer instep kicking, using continuous relative phase (CRP) as a quantitative method. The sample includes 15 elite and 15 amateur players to examine potential differences in coordination patterns and their impact on performance. Specifically, we focused on the coordination between hip, knee, and ankle joints in the forefoot-back kicking motion. Results indicated that elite players exhibited significantly higher hip-knee CRP in the coronal plane during 62%–81% of movement duration (p = 0.015) and higher knee-ankle CRP in the vertical plane during 78%–100% (p = 0.013). Moreover, elite players had significantly greater hip-knee mean absolute relative phase (MARP) and deviation phase (DP) in the coronal plane (p < 0.001), as well as increased knee-ankle DP (p = 0.04). In the horizontal plane, hip-knee MARP was also greater in the elite players compared to amateurs (p < 0.001). Further analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between hip-knee CRP and foot velocity in the sagittal plane (R = −0.66, p < 0.001), whereas a significant positive correlation was observed between knee-ankle CRP and foot velocity in the horizontal plane (R = 0.56, p = 0.002). These findings suggest that elite players have superior joint coordination, which contributes to a faster foot velocity at the moment of ball impact. Understanding these coordination patterns provides valuable insights into optimizing kicking techniques. The findings of this study suggest that joint coordination may play an important role in enhancing kicking foot speed, which could inform future training approaches aimed at improving soccer performance.

This study examines the impact of cognitive load (CL) on lower limb biomechanics during the take-off preparation phase of the platform serve in tennis players of varying skill levels. Fifteen elite and fifteen amateur tennis players performed platform serves before and after completing a 30-minute Stroop task designed to induce CL. Key biomechanical parameters, including joint range of motion (ROM), joint moments, centre of mass (COM) displacement, and ground reaction force (GRF), were assessed using both kinematic and kinetic analysis. After CL, the biomechanical performance of amateur athletes significantly decreased compared to elite athletes. Specifically, amateur athletes showed a 14.19° lower ankle joint range of motion in the sagittal plane (p < 0.001), a 0.04-meter lower COM displacement in the frontal plane (p = 0.017), and a 0.15 Nm/BW lower knee extension moment (p < 0.001). CL adversely affects the lower limb biomechanics of amateur players more than elite players, with elite players demonstrating greater stability. These findings suggest that elite players have developed more efficient motor control mechanisms through extensive training. Tailored training interventions that account for different skill levels could enhance performance stability and mitigate the risk of injury.

The kinematic and kinetic performance of tennis players differs across skill levels, with joint range of motion (ROM), moments, and stiffness being strongly linked to injury risk. Focusing on the biomechanical characteristics of lower-limb joints throughout the landing stage, especially among athletes of different skill levels, aids in understanding the link between injury risk and performance level. This study recruited 15 male campus tennis enthusiasts and 15 male professional tennis players. The kinematic and kinetic differences between amateur and professional players during the landing phase of the tennis serve were analyzed using SPM1D 0.4.11 and SPSS 27.0.1, with independent-sample t-tests applied in both cases. Throughout the tennis serve’s landing stage, the professional group exhibited significantly greater sagittal plane hip-joint stiffness (p < 0.001), horizontal plane moment (59~91%; p = 0.036), and a significantly higher peak moment (p = 0.029) in comparison with the amateur group. For the knee joint, the professional group exhibited significantly larger ROM in flexion–extension (0~82%; p = 0.003); along with greater ROM (0~29%; p = 0.042), moment (12~100%; p < 0.001), peak moment (p < 0.001) in adduction-abduction; and internal–external rotational moments (19~100%; p < 0.001) were markedly higher. The professional group showed significantly higher ankle joint ROM (p < 0.001) and moments (6~74%; p = 0.004) in the sagittal plane, as well as greater horizontal-plane ROM (27~67%; p = 0.041) and peak moments (p < 0.001). Compared with amateur tennis players, professional tennis players exhibit greater ROM, joint moments, and stiffness in specific planes, potentially increasing their risk of injury during the landing phase.