Biomechanics of Human Movement in Sports and Analysis of Sport Techniques

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Kinesiology and Biomechanics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 582

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: biomechanics of human movement; performance analysis in team sports; sport biomechanics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human body locomotion is the repetitive pattern of force application, and “technique” refers to the specific trajectories that follow it in order to achieve an optimum performance in task accomplishment during sports, despite spatio-temporal constraints. Although a commonly accepted style of movements is performed in each sport, technique, as exhibited by an individual, is not predetermined, unchanged, or identical regardless of the environmental context; rather, it is constantly changing, depending on various factors such as the phase of athletic development, the seasonal modification of physical fitness, environmental conditions, etc. The biomechanical analysis of human movement and sport techniques—in daily practice, in training, and in scientific research—must overcome challenges, such as interpretating the mechanisms stimulated in the specific movement patterns of the human body in a particular sport, the effective stimulation of these mechanisms to provoke optimum adaptations of the body’s movement in a given environment and constrains by exploiting positive effects and/or minimizing challenges during this interaction. Consequently, it is important to identify, classify, and decode the biomechanical factors that define the efficient movement patterns adopted by individuals that eventually result in optimized sport technique. Understanding the above-mentioned factors can trigger the adoption of beneficial practices in sports training, leading to enhanced performance, reduced occurrence of injury, and thus to more successful athletic careers.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers to communicate their latest findings in the field and to share contemporary evidence on performance- and technique-related sport biomechanics research and training practice. Original articles, reviews, and case reports may be submitted to this Special Issue.

Dr. Vassilios Panoutsakopoulos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • sport biomechanics
  • sport technique
  • kinematic analysis
  • kinetic analysis
  • movement pattern
  • sport performance
  • human performance optimization
  • sport injury prevention
  • interlimb coordination
  • interlimb asymmetries

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 1776 KB  
Article
Kinematic Analysis of the Lower Limb in Uchi-Mata: Comparison Between Elite Athletes Specializing and Non-Specializing
by Ciro José Brito, Naiara Ribeiro Almeida, Ignacio Roa-Gamboa, Lindsei Brabec Mota Barreto, José Raimundo Fernandes, Lúcio Marques Vieira-Souza, Otávio de Toledo Nóbrega, Alfonso López Díaz de Durana, Bianca Miarka and Esteban Aedo-Muñoz
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(4), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10040378 - 30 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Background: Uchi-mata is one of the most frequently used throwing techniques in judo, yet little is known about the kinematic factors distinguishing specialists from non-specialists. This study compared lower-limb kinematics during uchi-mata across its three phases in elite judokas. Methods: Forty athletes (12 [...] Read more.
Background: Uchi-mata is one of the most frequently used throwing techniques in judo, yet little is known about the kinematic factors distinguishing specialists from non-specialists. This study compared lower-limb kinematics during uchi-mata across its three phases in elite judokas. Methods: Forty athletes (12 female, 28 male; 24.5 ± 5.9 years) were classified as specialists (n = 20) or non-specialists (n = 20). Photogrammetry assessed hip, knee, and foot displacement, velocity, acceleration, and timing during the Approach, Turning, and Throw phases. Analyses were performed using mixed-effects models with group, phase, and sex as fixed effects, plus exploratory multivariate tests (p < 0.05). Results: Specialists executed faster movements in the Approach (p = 0.036, d = 0.69) and Throw phases (p = 0.010, d = 0.85), showed greater hip displacement during Approach (p = 0.008, d = 0.89), and achieved superior knee and foot displacement in Throw (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003). Final positioning also differed, with specialists displaying higher knee (98.5 ± 14.5 vs. 86.3 ± 17.8 cm, p ≤ 0.001) and foot (121.0 ± 19.7 vs. 104.4 ± 27.4 cm, p = 0.034) heights, but lower hip position (61.9 ± 4.2 vs. 75.6 ± 7.5 cm, p = 0.021). Sex showed no significant effects or interactions, indicating that these group differences were consistent across male and female athletes. Conclusions: Uchi-mata specialists demonstrated superior displacement and velocity control, particularly in the Approach and Throw phases, reflecting greater neuromuscular coordination and efficiency. These findings provide practical markers for coaches and athletes to guide training focused on mobility, strength, and technical drills that enhance hip, knee, and foot displacement, supporting the optimization of uchi-mata performance in elite judo. Full article
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