This study was aimed to analyse the lower limb kinematics during the change of direction (COD) performance with the dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) leg using linear (traditional kinematics) and nonlinear (Self Organising Map-based cluster analysis) approaches. Three 5-0-5 COD performances with the DL and three with the NDL were performed by 23 (aged 21.6 ± 2.3 years) collegiate athletes. No significant difference was observed between the COD duration, and approach speed of DL and NDL. Significantly greater ankle abductions, knee and hip external rotations were identified in COD with DL, compared to NDL (p < .001, d > 0.8). Self Organising Maps portrayed a completely different coordination pattern profile during change of direction performance with the DL and NDL. The cluster analysis illustrated similar inter-individual coordination patterning when participants turned with their DL or NDL. No visible relationship was observed in the cluster analysis of the lower limb joint angles and angular velocities. Outcomes of this study portrayed that coordination patterning (combination of joint angles and the rate of change of angles) could portray the movement patterning differences in different tasks, while a sole investigation on the joint angles or angular velocities may not reveal the underlying mechanisms of movement patterning.

Biomechanics and Functional Morphology Laboratory CIPER Faculdade de Motricidade Humana University of Lisbon Lisbon Portugal

Biomechanics and Sports Engineering Groups Biomedical Engineering Department Amirkabir University of Technology Tehran Iran

Department of Health and Sports Medicine Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences University of Tehran Tehran Iran

Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology Faculty of Physical Culture Palacky University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Human Motion Diagnostic Center University of Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

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