Lower-limb coordination pattern variability while clearing successive hurdles

The study assessed how young hurdlers coordinated their lower limbs while clearing successive hurdles, in order to determine various coordination profiles and their potential relation with hurdle clearance kinematic parameters. Twelve young athletes were video recorded and timed while performing the approach run and clearance of four consecutive hurdles. Low order behavioural parameters and trail and lead leg knee angles were analysed. Hierarchical cluster analysis determined three coordination profiles of hurdling behaviour, revealing that athletes used a variety of motor solutions, with either consistent or variable inter-limb coordination across hurdles. Variability in inter-limb coordination pattern while clearing consecutive hurdles was observed both within and between individuals, leading to either similar or differing performance outcomes, suggesting potential exploitation of degeneracy of perceptual-motor system. These findings suggest that young hurdlers can exploit multiple coordination strategies to maintain performance, highlighting the potential benefit of incorporating movement variability in training to encourage exploration of alternative motor solutions.