The Mechanics of Movement: Biomechanics in Sports Performance

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The purpose of this Topic is to specify the principles of mathematics, functional anatomy, and mechanics to explore and understand biological problems in sports performance. This can discriminate between parameters research, permitting the optimization of human behavior. This Topic aims to summarize the most important parameters influencing human performance in health sciences across all age groups throughout their lives. Studies that promote the latest research in biomechanics, health, quality of life improvement, and sport rehabilitation are welcome. In addition, the aim of this Topic is to prevent functional decline and frailty by adopting a life course perspective approach. This is leveraged through using the latest research on movement mechanics and sports performance, targeting all stages of life for prevention, performance improvement, and the management of sports diseases. Modeling, simulation, quantification, and computing the musculoskeletal system allow for quantifying and improving discriminate parameters that characterize movement in different contexts, such as sports, work, and daily life. The aim is to effectively combine and coordinate research and results to better understand and improve human movement across various fields, including life, medicine, sports, and work.

Prof. Dr. Mario Bernardo-Filho
Dr. Danúbia Da Cunha De Sá-Caputo
Prof. Dr. Redha Taiar
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Biology biology	3.5	7.4	2012	17.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Brain Sciences brainsci	2.8	5.6	2011	16.2 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Sports sports	2.9	4.1	2013	18.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Biomechanics biomechanics	1.4	2.4	2021	23 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology jfmk	2.5	3.7	2016	26.9 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Physiologia physiologia	2.3	-	2021	18.5 Days	CHF 1000	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Biology Brain Sciences Sports Biomechanics JFMK Physiologia

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13 pages, 2196 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Embodied Cognition of Manipulative Actions: Subliminal Grasping Semantics Enhance Using-Action Recognition

by Yanglan Yu, Qin Huang, Shiying Gao and Anmin Li

Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1206; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111206 - 8 Nov 2025

Viewed by 398

Abstract

Background: Grasping actions, owing to their manipulated nature, play a central role in research on embodied action language. However, their foundational contribution to the cognition of using actions remains debated. This study examined the relationship between grasping and using actions from the [...] Read more.

Background: Grasping actions, owing to their manipulated nature, play a central role in research on embodied action language. However, their foundational contribution to the cognition of using actions remains debated. This study examined the relationship between grasping and using actions from the perspective of subthreshold semantic processing. Methods: Participants engaged with objects affording both action types while behavioral responses and event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. Semantic congruency between subliminally presented grasping verbs and the actions of target objects was systematically manipulated. Results: Subthreshold processing of grasping verbs facilitated the recognition of using actions, as reflected in faster response times and modulations of ERP components. Spatiotemporal analyses revealed a processing pathway from occipital to parietal and frontal regions, with the posterior parietal cortex serving as a critical hub for integrating object function semantics with action information. Conclusions: These findings provide novel evidence that grasping action semantics support the recognition of using actions even below conscious awareness, elucidating the neural dynamics of embodied cognition and refining the temporal characterization of manipulative action processing pathways proposed by the two-action system theory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Mechanics of Movement: Biomechanics in Sports Performance)

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17 pages, 1364 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Intersegmental Coordination Patterns During Heel Rise: Effects of Knee Position and Movement Phases

by Yota Abe, Aimi Tayama, Tomoki Iizuka and Yosuke Tomita

Biomechanics 2025, 5(4), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5040087 - 3 Nov 2025

Viewed by 227

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to provide preliminary normative data on intersegmental coordination patterns during heel rises at different knee joint positions and across various phases and periods. Methods: Twelve 21-year-old university students from the same cohort performed heel rises in knee-extended and knee-flexed [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to provide preliminary normative data on intersegmental coordination patterns during heel rises at different knee joint positions and across various phases and periods. Methods: Twelve 21-year-old university students from the same cohort performed heel rises in knee-extended and knee-flexed conditions. Shank and foot kinematics were recorded using the VICON Oxford Foot Model, and intersegmental coordination was analyzed using a modified vector coding technique. Results: The results showed that coordination patterns varied significantly between the ascending and descending phases and across the early, middle, and late periods. In the early ascending phase, knee extension exhibited in-phase coordination (shank external rotation with hindfoot inversion), resembling propulsion-related coordination in gait, whereas knee flexion displayed greater anti-phase coordination between hindfoot plantar flexion and forefoot dorsiflexion. The middle and late periods demonstrated heel-rise-specific patterns, with coordination shifting from proximal to distal dominance. Knee flexion altered the coordination between the shank and hindfoot and between the hindfoot and forefoot in the sagittal plane compared to that during knee extension. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the knee position influences intersegmental coordination during heel rises, and the present results provide reference values that can enable future diagnostic validation and comparative studies in pathological populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Mechanics of Movement: Biomechanics in Sports Performance)

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21 pages, 730 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Physical Fitness, Body Composition, Somatotype, and Phantom Strategy (Z-Score) in U13, U15, and U17 Female Soccer Players: A Comparative and Correlational Study

by Boryi A. Becerra-Patiño, Juan D. Paucar-Uribe, Carlos F. Martínez-Benítez, Valeria Montilla-Valderrama, Armando Monterrosa-Quintero and Adriana Guzmán Sánchez

Biomechanics 2025, 5(4), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5040085 - 3 Nov 2025

Viewed by 511

Abstract

Background: Some studies have suggested that physical fitness and body composition may influence individual and collective performance. However, it is necessary to be able to define the relationships between these variables in soccer players of different ages. Objective: To determine the [...] Read more.

Background: Some studies have suggested that physical fitness and body composition may influence individual and collective performance. However, it is necessary to be able to define the relationships between these variables in soccer players of different ages. Objective: To determine the relation between physical fitness level, body composition, and somatotype in female youth soccer players in response to age. Materials and methods: A total of 56 players were evaluated: 19 early adolescents (EA–U13) with a body mass of 48.35 ± 5.67 kg and a height of 157.63 ± 5.55 cm, 21 middle adolescents (MA–U15) with a body mass of 54.02 ± 5.96 kg and a height of 160.37 ± 5.25 cm and 16 late adolescents (LA–U17) with a body mass of 55.37 ± 6.15 kg and a height of 162.39 ± 5.77 cm. The physical fitness tests were: Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Countermovement Jump with Arms (CMJA), Single Leg Countermovement Jump, COD-Timer 5-0-5, COD-Timer 5+5, Speed 15 m, Hamstring Strength, and Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST). The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocols were used to determine anthropometric measurements (skinfolds, circumferences, bone diameters), and the Heath-Carter method was used to assess body composition and somatotype, with z-scores calculated using the Phantom strategy. Results: The analysis revealed that the most significant differences between groups were observed in general anthropometric measurements (ω² = 0.84), followed by sitting height (ω² = 0.51) and percentage of body fat according to Carter’s method (ω² = 0.24), all with large and statistically significant effect sizes (p < 0.05). Larger muscle and bone dimensions, especially in the hip, thigh, and calf, are closely related to better strength, power, and initial sprint speed performance in female soccer players. Conclusions: This study reaffirms that muscle mass is a key predictor of athletic performance, along with strength at high speeds, promoting improvements in power and sprinting in the initial meters. Adiposity is a limiting factor for youth soccer players. Age progression and biological maturation favor the development of the mesomorphic profile, optimizing strength and power. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Mechanics of Movement: Biomechanics in Sports Performance)

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14 pages, 265 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Intra-Set Rest Periods on Back Squat Propulsive Impulse

by Liam J. Houlton, Jeremy A. Moody, Theodoros M. Bampouras and Joseph I. Esformes

Biomechanics 2025, 5(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5030069 - 6 Sep 2025

Viewed by 862

Abstract

Background: Cluster sets (CSs) maintain velocity and power in compound movements by employing similar propulsion strategies or maintaining impulse through different mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the effect of four CS conditions on back squat (BS) propulsion and provide models for estimating [...] Read more.

Background: Cluster sets (CSs) maintain velocity and power in compound movements by employing similar propulsion strategies or maintaining impulse through different mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the effect of four CS conditions on back squat (BS) propulsion and provide models for estimating changes in propulsion based on repetition and set number. Methods: Twenty male participants (age = 28.3 ± 3.1 years, stature = 1.74 ± 8.21 m, body mass = 84.80 ± 7.80 kg, BS 1RM = 140.90 ± 24.20 kg) completed four data collection sessions. Each session consisted of three sets of five repetitions at 80% 1RM BS with three minutes of unloaded inter-set rest, using varying intra-set rest intervals. Experimental conditions included 0 s (TRAD), 10 s (CS10), 20 s (CS20), and 30 s (CS30) inter-repetition rest, randomly assigned to sessions in a counterbalanced order. Ground reaction force data were collected on dual force platforms sampling at 1000 Hz, from which net propulsive impulse (J_PROP), mean force (MF), and propulsion time (t_PROP) were calculated. Conditions and sets were analysed using a 4 × 3 (CONDITION*SET) repeated-measures ANOVA to assess differences between conditions and sets, and linear mixed models (LMMs) were used to provide regression equations for each dependent variable in each condition. Results: The ANOVA revealed no significant interactions for any dependent variable. No main effects of CONDITION or SET were observed for J_PROP. The main effects of CONDITION showed that MF was significantly lower in TRAD than CS20 (g = 0.757) and CS30 (g = 0.749). t_PROP was significantly higher in TRAD than CS20 (g = 0.437) and CS30 (g = 0.569). The main effects of SET showed that MF was significantly lower in S2 (g = 0.691) and S3 (g = 1.087) compared to S1. t_PROP was significantly higher in S2 (g = 0.866) and S3 (g = 1.179) compared to S1. LMMs for CS20 and CS30 revealed no significant effect (p > 0.05) between repetition or set number and dependent variables. Conclusions: The results suggest that CS20 and CS30 maintain J_PROP by limiting MF and t_PROP attenuation. This is less rest than that suggested by the previous literature, which may influence programming decisions during strength and power mesocycles to maximise training time and training density. LMMs provide accurate estimates of BS propulsive force attenuation when separating repetitions by up to 30 s, which may help practitioners optimise training load for long-term adaptations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Mechanics of Movement: Biomechanics in Sports Performance)

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12 pages, 430 KB  

Open AccessBrief Report

Do Outcome or Movement Strategy Variables Provide Better Insights into Asymmetries During Multiple-Hops?

by Anthony Sharp, Jonathon Neville, Ryu Nagahara, Tomohito Wada and John Cronin

Biomechanics 2025, 5(3), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics5030067 - 2 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 733

Abstract

Multiple-hops performed horizontally in series effectively assess return-to-play readiness, as they mimic the propulsive and decelerative demands of sports. Movement strategy variables (kinetic variables) offer more insight into injury recovery than outcome-based measures (kinematic variables) like hop distance alone. This study focused on [...] Read more.

Multiple-hops performed horizontally in series effectively assess return-to-play readiness, as they mimic the propulsive and decelerative demands of sports. Movement strategy variables (kinetic variables) offer more insight into injury recovery than outcome-based measures (kinematic variables) like hop distance alone. This study focused on kinematic and kinetic variables to assess asymmetries during triple-hop (3-Hop) and quintuple-hop (5-Hop) tests with 44 male athletes from university sports clubs and teams. The aim was to determine the magnitude and potential direction of asymmetry and compare the sensitivity of kinematic and kinetic variables. Results showed mean kinematic asymmetries below 7.1% (range: 0.00 to 28.9%), while average kinetic asymmetries were as high as 38.8% (range: 0.0% to 95.4%). These findings suggest that kinetic variables are more sensitive in assessing movement strategy, providing more detailed insight into rehabilitation and return-to-play decisions. The study emphasizes the importance of considering both outcome and movement strategy variables in injury recovery. These results have practical applications for clinicians and coaches supporting those in return-to-play scenarios, as well as those addressing performance deficits, therefore offering valuable information to refine exercise prescriptions and athletic program design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Mechanics of Movement: Biomechanics in Sports Performance)

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