Description
Background: The Single Leg Squat (SLS) is a widely used functional test to assess lower extremity biomechanics, offering insights into movement patterns and injury risks. In youth football players, these tasks are critical for identifying deficits that predispose them to lower limb injury. Traditional biomechanical analysis methods can be resource-intensive, limiting their applicability in sports environments. Wearable technologies, such as IMU, EMG sensors, and smart textile socks, provide an efficient alternative for field-based monitoring.Aim: This study examines the biomechanical relationships during SLS in youth football players, focusing on biomechanical parameters - joint movements, foot pressure dynamics, and muscle activation - measured by wearable sensors.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-two youth football players (aged 14–15; 16 males, 16 females) performed SLS, while wearing DAid® smart socks, NOTCH® inertial sensors, and PLUX muscleBAN sensors. Data on joint angles, center of pressure (COP) shifts, and muscle activity were captured. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships between biomechanical parameters.
Results: For SLS_B, significant correlations were found between COP2X and m.gluteus medius (r = 0.53, p < 0.01), and hip joint adduction and COP2X (r = 0.712, p < 0.001). COP1W negatively correlated with m.gluteus maximus (r = -0.529, p < 0.01). In SLS_F, COP2W showed a strong negative correlation with m.gluteus maximus (r = - 0.612, p < 0.001), while COP2X positively correlated with m.gluteus medius (r = 0.481, p < 0.01). For SLS_M, COP2X positively correlated with m.gluteus medius (r = 0.527, p < 0.01), while COP2W negatively correlated with m.gluteus maximus (r = -0.717, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the correlation between lower extremity biomechanical parameters measured by wearable sensors in youth football players. Significant correlations emphasize the utility of wearable sensors for field-ready biomechanical assessments, aiding injury prevention and athletic performance development.
| Period | 26 Mar 2025 → 28 Mar 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | RSU International Research Conference 2025: Knowledge for Use in Practice |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Riga, LatviaShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |