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Kicking performance in relation to balance ability over the support leg
Tracey S-Y Chew-Bullock1, David I Anderson, Kate A Hamel
1Department of Kinesiology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco, CA 94132, USA.
Human Movement Science
|September 4, 2012
Summary
Single-leg balance ability is linked to kicking accuracy in athletes. Better balance on one leg may improve the accuracy of kicks with the other leg, suggesting balance is key for skilled movements.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
- Sports Science
Background:
- Balance control is a critical component of skilled motor actions.
- Understanding the relationship between balance and specific athletic skills like kicking is important for performance optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if single-leg balance ability predicts kicking performance.
- To determine if balance on one leg influences kicking accuracy and velocity of the contralateral leg.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-eight participants performed single-leg balance tests on a force plate for 30 seconds.
- Participants executed soccer kicks for maximum accuracy and velocity with both legs.
- Correlational analyses were used to assess the relationship between balance and kicking metrics.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between single-leg balance and kicking accuracy.
- Balance ability did not significantly correlate with kicking velocity.
- Left leg balance showed a stronger correlation with dominant (right) leg kicking accuracy than right leg balance.
Conclusions:
- Single-leg balance ability is a significant predictor of kicking accuracy, supporting its role in skilled movement.
- The findings suggest that balance training may enhance kicking performance, particularly accuracy.
- Further research is needed to explore the nuances of balance-skill relationships across different limbs and athletic tasks.
