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Unanticipated Visual Stimulus Negatively Affects Change of Direction Performance and Biomechanical Patterns in Female
Aarón Miralles-Iborra1, Thomas Dos'Santos2, Jose L L Elvira1
1Department of Sport Sciences, Sports Research Centre, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, Alicante, Spain.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Unanticipated visual stimuli negatively impact female football players' change of direction (COD) performance and biomechanics. Reactive stimuli increase COD times and alter movement patterns, potentially indicating higher injury risk.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
Background:
- Change of direction (COD) is crucial in football, requiring rapid deceleration, stabilization, and acceleration.
- The ability to anticipate or react to visual stimuli influences COD performance and technique.
- Understanding how unanticipated stimuli affect female football players' COD is vital for injury prevention and performance enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of unanticipated visual stimuli on COD performance in female football players.
- To analyze kinematic and biomechanical pattern alterations during COD under anticipated versus unanticipated conditions.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-two female amateur football players performed a 90° COD task under anticipated (preplanned) and unanticipated (reactive light stimulus) conditions.
- A 2-D kinematic analysis and the Cutting Movement Assessment Score (CMAS) were employed to evaluate movement quality.
- Statistical comparisons included paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with effect sizes (Cohen's d, rank biserial correlation).
Main Results:
- Unanticipated COD conditions resulted in significantly longer COD times (p < 0.001) and higher CMAS scores (p ≤ 0.002) compared to anticipated conditions.
- Key biomechanical changes included increased lateral trunk flexion, reduced knee frontal plane projection angle at initial contact, and increased knee flexion and lateral leg plant distance.
- These kinematic modifications were particularly prominent in the frontal plane of motion.
Conclusions:
- Unanticipated visual stimuli impair COD performance and alter biomechanical strategies in female football players.
- The observed kinematic changes, especially frontal plane alterations, may signify movement patterns associated with increased injury risk.
- Training protocols should consider incorporating reactive stimuli to improve players' ability to adapt and execute COD effectively under unpredictable conditions.
