Kinetic analyses of maximal effort soccer kicks in female collegiate athletes

To determine the effect of plant leg and approach condition on the torques of the hip, knee, and ankle in soccer kicking tasks, nine female collegiate soccer players performed a series of kicking tasks from three different approach conditions. Kinematic data of the hip, knee, and ankle were recorded and joint torques of the plant leg were calculated. Peak flexor torque of the hip and ankle was greater for the dominant than the non-dominant plant leg for center and off-axis approach conditions (P < 0.05), while the opposite was true for peak extension torque for the hip and knee (P < 0.05). Similar effects of plant leg dominance emerged for peak internal and external rotation torques as well for peak abduction and adduction torques. In summary, these results indicate that participants use greater pulling torques and smaller braking torques in the dominant plant leg compared with the non-dominant plant leg. Thus, even in collegiate athletes who train to be able to kick efficiently with either leg, differences in peak joint torques emerge between the dominant and non-dominant plant legs, particularly when participants kick from an off-axis approach.