Sprinting in curvilinear trajectories is an important soccer ability,
corresponding to ~85 % of the actions performed at maximum
velocity in a soccer league. We compared the neuromuscular
behavior and foot contact-time between outside leg and
inside leg during curve sprinting to both sides in soccer players.
Nine soccer players (age = 23 ± 4.12 years) performed: 3 × Sprint
linear, 3 × Sprint right curve, and 3 × Sprint left curve. An ANOVA
with repeated measures was used to compare the differences
between inside and outside leg, and Cohen’s d was used
to calculate the effect-size. Considering the average data, the
performance classification (from best to worst) was as follows:
1. Curve “good” side (2.45 ± 0.11 s), 2. Linear (2.47 ± 0.13 s),
and 3. Curve “weak” side (2.56 ± 0.17 s). Comparing linear with
curve sprinting, inside leg recorded significant differences
(“good” and “weak”; effect size = 1.20 and 2, respectively); in
contrast, for outside leg, there were no significant differences
(“good” and “weak”; effect size = 0.30 and 0.49, respectively).
Electromyography activity showed significant differences
(p ≤ 0.05) during curve sprinting between outside (higher in
biceps femoris and gluteus medius) and inside leg (higher activity
in semitendinosus and adductor). In summary, inside and
outside leg play different roles during curved sprints, but inside
leg is more affected by the change from straight to curve sprint.
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