Effects of direction and gender on lower limb biomechanics during forward lunges in badminton players: a preliminary analysis

Abstract

Background: The lunge is a critical movement in badminton, facilitating rapid and efficient court coverage and enabling players to promptly reach the hitting position. While previous studies have examined the influence of lunge direction on lower limb biomechanics, the effects of gender have yet to be explored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of direction and gender on lower limb biomechanics during forehand and backhand forward lunges in amateur badminton players.

Methods: 16 male and 16 female amateur players were recruited. Kinematic and kinetic data were measured synchronously using a Vicon motion capture system and a Kistler force plate. A two-way mixed-design ANOVA was used to explore the effects of different lunge directions, gender, and the interaction between the two factors on each parameter. Joint angles during the stance phase were analyzed using the statistical nonparametric mapping method.

Results: Interaction effects between gender and direction were observed for the second impact of vertical ground reaction force (VGRF), knee peak external rotation moment, ankle sagittal angles and knee frontal and transverse moments during the stance phase. Compared with the females, the males showed significantly greater loading rate and impulse of VGRF, peak flexion, sagittal range of motion (ROM) and abduction moment of knee joint. The sagittal ROM of hip and knee joint and the knee flexion moment around 84% of the stance phase during backhand lunge was significantly greater than during forehand lunge. In contrast, the sagittal ROM of ankle joint and peak abduction moment of knee joint was significantly lower during backhand lunge.

Conclusions: Gender-specific biomechanical strategies influence knee loading patterns during badminton lunges, contributing to direction-dependent variations in injury risk. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating directional biomechanical demands and sex-specific neuromuscular adaptations into training and injury prevention programs to mitigate injury risks.

Keywords: Badminton; Biomechanics; Lower limb joints; Lunge.

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of experimental environment (a) and division of lunge phases (b). The forehand forward lunge is used as an example to illustrate the division of lunge phases: (i) Initial contact: The heel contacts the force plate, with vertical ground reaction force ≥ 20 N; (ii) Moment of initial impact; (iii) Moment of secondary impact; (iv) Push-off: The dominant leg leaves the force plate, with vertical ground reaction force ≤ 20 N. The stance phase is defined as the period from (i, iv)

Fig. 2

Definitions of VGRF indicators (a) and comparison of VGRFs between male and female during forehand and backhand lunges (b)

Fig. 3

Differences of hip angles in the sagittal plane between gender and direction. Interaction effect (a), main effects of direction (b) and gender (c), comparison between gender (d)

Fig. 4

Differences of knee angles in the sagittal plane between gender and direction. Comparison between gender and direction (a), interaction effect (b), main effects of direction (c) and gender (d)

Fig. 5

Differences of ankle angles in the sagittal plane between gender and direction. Comparison between gender and direction (a), interaction effect (b)

Fig. 6

Differences of knee moments in the sagittal plane between gender and direction. Interaction effect (a), main effects of direction (b) and gender (c), comparison between direction (d)

Fig. 7

Differences of knee moments in the frontal plane between gender and direction. Comparison between gender and direction (a), interaction effect (b)

Fig. 8

Differences of knee moments in the transverse plane between gender and direction. Comparison between gender and direction (a), interaction effect (b)