Comparison of Selected Knee Kinematic Factors between Dominant and Non- Dominant Legs in Jump-Landing after the Internal and External Focus of Attention among Soccer Players

Jump-landing is one of non-contact movements that occur frequently in soccer. Since the focus of attention has important influence on jump-landing performance, the purpose of the current study was to compare knee kinematic factors between dominant and non-dominant leg in jump-landing task after the internal and external focus of attention in male soccer players.

A total of 19 male soccer players (mean age: 19/16±1/119) were objectively selected. Participants performed jump-landing task in two instructions of internal and external focus of attention with dominant and non-dominant leg. Motions were recorded via motion analysis system and the values of knee valgus, knee flexion, and jump height were calculated using MATLAB software. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.

The results showed that there were significant differences in the dominant and non-dominant knee valgus between internal and external focus of attention (p=0/04), knee valgus between dominant and non-dominant in internal focus of attention (p=0/01), and in external focus of attention (0/003) and jump height between internal and external focus of attention (0/001). But there were no significant deferences in dominant knee valgus between internal and external focus of attention (p=0/889), dominant maximum knee flexion between internal and external focus of attention (p=0/235), and non-dominant maximum knee flexion (p=0/297) and dominant and non-dominant maximum knee flexion in internal focus of attention (0/114).

According to our results, external focus of attention has beneficial effects on some of kinematic factors. Since these factors are important in knee prevention injuries, it is suggested that external focus of attention feedback be provided during jump-landing.