Effect Of Lower-limb Strength On 5-m And 10-m Deceleration Performance In Amateur Team-sport Athletes

: Rapid deceleration ability is essential in competitive team-sports. Previous studies have demonstrated that horizontal deceleration is characterized by high loading rates, making it a major contributing factor to lower-limb injuries. While the correlation between knee strength and deceleration performance has been studied, the effect of hip and ankle strength PT ondeceleration performance over short distances mains unexplored. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to determine the effect of lower-limb joints strength on deceleration performance at distances of 5-m and 10-m. METHODS: Eighteen college athletes were recruited and underwent two test sessions. In the first session, the 5-m and 10-m deceleration performance were measured. In the second session, concentric (slow: 60°/s and fast: 180°/s) and eccentric (30°/s) isokinetic PT (peak torque) of the hip, knee, and ankle joints were tested using an isokinetic dynamometer. Subjects were median split into faster (n = 9) and slower (n = 9) groups, relating to their 5-m and 10-m deceleration performance. Paired t-tests and Hedge's g effect sizes with 95% CI were calculated to determine the differences in lower-limb PT between the two groups. RESULTS: In the 5-m deceleration test, faster athletes demonstrated significantly greater knee concentric (60°/s) flexion strength (ES = 1.39, p < 0.05), as well as greater concentric (60°/s) plantar flexion (ES = 1.26, p < 0.05; 240°/s: ES = 1.08, p < 0.05) and dorsiflexion, also at 60°/s (ES = 1.07, p < 0.05), and eccentric dorsiflexion at 30°/s (ES = 0.97, p < 0.05). In the 10-m deceleration ability test, faster athletes only showed significantly greater knee concentric (60°/s) flexion strength (ES = 1.30, p < 0.05). There were no differences in hip PT between the faster and slower groups in the 5-m and 10-m deceleration performance. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that individuals with greater knee and ankle strengths produced superior deceleration performance. Specifically, in the 5-m deceleration, athletes with higher ankle strength generate greater braking force and power, enabling them to complete the deceleration in a shorter time and distance. With the 10-m deceleration, knee strength is more likely to differentiate good deceleration performance.