2026 Volume 4 Issue 1 Pages 39-47
Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether kinematic and kinetic factors of the knee joint associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury differ between forefoot and rearfoot strike patterns during sidestep cutting (SSC), and whether foot strike pattern influences the SSC execution time.
Methods: Three-dimensional motion analysis of a 90° SSC maneuver was conducted in 20 healthy adult males with soccer experience. Two distinct foot strike conditions were established and analyzed: forefoot strike and rearfoot strike. The kinematic and kinetic variables of the knee joint, ground reaction force characteristics, and SSC execution time were compared between the two conditions.
Results: Peak knee flexion, valgus, and internal rotation moments during the early stance phase—factors associated with ACL injury—were significantly greater under the rearfoot strike condition. The time required to complete the SSC maneuver was significantly shorter under forefoot strike condition.
Conclusion: Forefoot strike during a 90° SSC maneuver was associated with faster directional changes and may contribute to a lower risk of ACL injury compared to rearfoot strike.
