Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Advertisement

Scientific Reports
  • View all journals
  • Search
  • My Account Login
  • Content Explore content
  • About the journal
  • Publish with us
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed
  1. nature
  2. scientific reports
  3. articles
  4. article
Lower-limb joint-coordination and coordination variability during lateral shuffle in colleague students with different vision acuity
Download PDF
Download PDF
  • Article
  • Open access
  • Published: 21 February 2026

Lower-limb joint-coordination and coordination variability during lateral shuffle in colleague students with different vision acuity

  • Huihui Wang1,
  • Xiaonan Wu1,
  • Lin Zhang1,
  • Huali Sun1 &
  • …
  • Aochuan Xue1,2 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Health care
  • Risk factors

Abstract

Vision serves as a crucial determinant influencing human posture control. However, there is a paucity of research quantifying the relationship between vision intervention and motion control. The lateral shuffle is a prevalent movement pattern in sports and a representative movement associated with sports injuries. This study systematically evaluated the effects of various visual conditions (normal vision, + 150° convex lens, and + 450° convex lens) on bilateral lower limb coordination and variability at the hip-knee and knee-ankle joints during lateral shuffle movements. This study recruited 29 male college students with normal vision, with 19 participants meeting inclusion criteria (average age 19.84 ± 0.83 years, height 176.74 ± 5.55 cm, weight 68.51 ± 12.10 kg, BMI 21.84 ± 2.56 kg/m2). Kinematic data were collected using the PN3 Pro device under various visual conditions, which were then used to compute lower-limb coordination and coordination variability via the continuous relative phase method.Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 software, with one-way repeated measures ANOVA employed to evaluate the impact of myopia severity on coordination, with effect sizes measured by partial eta squared (ηp2). Visual interventions significantly impacted lower limb coordination, demonstrating pronounced joint function gradient effects and lateral asymmetry. Compared to hip-knee coordination, knee-ankle coordination exhibited greater sensitivity to visual interference, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large (ηp2, 0.129–0.418). Particularly under + 450° convex lens visual conditions, the effect size (ηp2) of Left knee-ankle coordination reached 0.418, explaining up to 41.8% of variance (p < 0.05). +450° convex lens conditions significantly increased coordination variability, supporting a dose-response relationship, with knee-ankle coordination showing heightened sensitivity. Interventions for varying degrees of myopia can impact lower limb postural control during lateral movements. The alterations in lower limb coordination predominantly affect the knee and ankle joints, rendering these two areas particularly susceptible to injury.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Peterka, R. J. Sensorimotor integration in human postural control. J. Neurophysiol. 88 (3), 1097–1118 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Horak, F. B. Postural orientation and equilibrium: what do we need to know about neural control of balance to prevent falls?. Age ageing. 35 (Suppl 2), ii7–ii11 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Xue, A. et al. Kinematic characteristics of gait with different myopia: a cross-sectional study. Front. public. health. 11, 1256242 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Taylor, J. B. et al. Activity Demands During Multi-Directional Team Sports: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 47 (12), 2533–2551 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lyu, M. et al. Lateral Shuffle-Induced Fatigue Effects on Ankle Proprioception and Countermovement Jump Performance. J. Sports Sci. Med. 23 (2), 418–424 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ma, F. et al. The Myopia Prevalence and Association With Physical Activity Among Primary School Students Aged 6–12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tianjin, China. Transl Vis. Sci. Technol. 13 (6), 1–4 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Onofrei, R. R. & Amaricai, E. Postural balance in relation with vision and physical activity in healthy young adults. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health. 19 (9), 5021 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Latash, M. L. The bliss (not the problem) of motor abundance (not redundancy). Exp. Brain Res. 217 (1), 1–5 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Young, W. & Farrow, D. A review of agility: Practical applications for strength and conditioning. Strength. Conditioning J. 28 (5), 24–29 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tang, Y. et al. Effects of shoelace tightness on lower limb biomechanics and subjective perception during lateral shuffle in basketball. Acta Bioeng. Biomech. 25 (4), 145–154 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Zaslow, T. L. et al. Comparison of lateral shuffle and side-step cutting in young recreational athletes. Gait Posture. 44, 189–193 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Seifert, L. et al. Affordance Realization in Climbing: Learning and Transfer. Front. Psychol. 9, 820 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Frank, T. D. et al. A quantitative dynamical systems approach to differential learning: self-organization principle and order parameter equations. Biol. Cybern. 98 (1), 19–31 (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bartlett, R., Wheat, J. & Robins, M. Is movement variability important for sports biomechanists?. Sports Biomech. 6 (2), 224–243 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mann, D. T. et al. Perceptual-cognitive expertise in sport: a meta-analysis. J. Sport Exerc. Psychol. 29 (4), 457–478 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Faul, F. et al. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behav. Res. Methods. 41 (4), 1149–1160 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Faul, F. et al. G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behav. Res. Methods. 39 (2), 175–191 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ma, F. et al. The Myopia Prevalence and Association With Physical Activity Among Primary School Students Aged 6–12 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tianjin, China. Transl Vis. Sci. Technol. 13 (6), 4 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mohr, M. & Federolf, P. Fatigue-related reductions in movement smoothness during a lateral shuffle and side-cutting movement. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 22 (10), 1522–1531 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lamb, P. F. & Stockl, M. On the use of continuous relative phase: Review of current approaches and outline for a new standard. Clin. Biomech. (Bristol). 29 (5), 484–493 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Burgess-Limerick, R., Abernethy, B. & Neal, R. J. Relative phase quantifies interjoint coordination. J. Biomech. 26 (1), 91–94 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Miller, R. H. et al. Variability in kinematic coupling assessed by vector coding and continuous relative phase. J. Biomech. 43 (13), 2554–2560 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ebrahimi, S. et al. Comparison of the trunk-pelvis and lower extremities sagittal plane inter-segmental coordination and variability during walking in persons with and without chronic low back pain. Hum. Mov. Sci. 52, 55–66 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Meyns, P. et al. Is interlimb coordination during walking preserved in children with cerebral palsy?. Res. Dev. Disabil. 33 (5), 1418–1428 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Robbins, S. M. et al. Inter-segmental coordination amplitude and variability differences during gait in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and healthy adults. Clin. Biomech. (Bristol). 94, 105515 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Schober, P., Boer, C. & Schwarte, L. A. Correlation Coefficients: Appropriate Use and Interpretation. Anesth. Analg. 126 (5), 1763–1768 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Riemann, B. L. & Lephart, S. M. The sensorimotor system, part II: the role of proprioception in motor control and functional joint stability. J. Athl. Train. 37 (1), 80 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  28. O’Connor, S. M. & Kuo, A. D. Direction-Dependent Control of Balance During Walking and Standing. J. Neurophysiol. 102 3, 1411–1419 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kuo, C. C. et al. Effects of Tai-Chi Chuan Practice on Patterns and Stability of Lower Limb Inter-Joint Coordination During Obstructed Gait in the Elderly. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 9, 739722 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Stergiou, N., Harbourne, R. & Cavanaugh, J. Optimal movement variability: a new theoretical perspective for neurologic physical therapy. J. Neurol. Phys. Ther. 30 (3), 120–129 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Stergiou, N. & Decker, L. M. Human movement variability, nonlinear dynamics, and pathology: is there a connection?. Hum. Mov. Sci. 30 (5), 869–888 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Warren, W. H., Kay, B. A. & Yilmaz, E. H. Visual control of posture during walking: functional specificity. J. Exp. Psychol. Hum. Percept. Perform. 22 (4), 818–838 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Huisinga, J. M. et al. Postural response latencies are related to balance control during standing and walking in patients with multiple sclerosis. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 95 (7), 1390–1397 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kuo, A. D. An optimal control model for analyzing human postural balance. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 42 (1), 87–101 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Dejong, A. F., Koldenhoven, R. M. & Hertel, J. Proximal Adaptations in Chronic Ankle Instability: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Med. Sci. Sports. Exerc. 52 (7), 1563–1575 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Konishi, R. et al. Sex differences in pelvis, thigh, and shank coordination during walking. J. Biomech. 162, 111891 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to the School of Sports and Health, Zunyi Medical University for their support. We would also like to thank all the participants in the survey for their help and support in this study.

Funding

This study was supported by the 2023 Guizhou Province Basic Research Plan (Natural Science) Project (Project No: Qiankehe Foundation-ZK [2023] General 512), Zunyi Municipal Science and Technology Program: Biomechanical Characteristics and Motor Control Mechanisms of Three Lower Limb Joints in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability at Multiple Running Speeds (Project No.: Zunshi Kehe HZzi (2025) No.285), the Project of University Humanities and Social Sciences Research of Guizhou Provincial Department of Education (Project No: 24RWZX065), as well as Zunyi Medical University National Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (Project No. 2024106610951) .

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Sports and Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China

    Huihui Wang, Xiaonan Wu, Lin Zhang, Huali Sun & Aochuan Xue

  2. School of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

    Aochuan Xue

Authors
  1. Huihui Wang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaonan Wu
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lin Zhang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Huali Sun
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Aochuan Xue
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Huihui Wang: wrote the main manuscript text and prepared Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Table 1, and 2. Xiaonan Wu, Lin Zhang, Aochuan Xue: collected date and processed dataAll authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huihui Wang.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, H., Wu, X., Zhang, L. et al. Lower-limb joint-coordination and coordination variability during lateral shuffle in colleague students with different vision acuity. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40892-x

Download citation

  • Received: 06 February 2025

  • Accepted: 17 February 2026

  • Published: 21 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40892-x

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Keywords

  • Visual intervention
  • Lateral shuffle
  • Movement analysis
  • Joint coordination
Download PDF

Advertisement

Explore content

  • Research articles
  • News & Comment
  • Collections
  • Subjects
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on X
  • Sign up for alerts
  • RSS feed

About the journal

  • About Scientific Reports
  • Contact
  • Journal policies
  • Guide to referees
  • Calls for Papers
  • Editor's Choice
  • Journal highlights
  • Open Access Fees and Funding

Publish with us

  • For authors
  • Language editing services
  • Open access funding
  • Submit manuscript

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Find a job
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

Scientific Reports (Sci Rep)

ISSN 2045-2322 (online)

nature.com sitemap

About Nature Portfolio

  • About us
  • Press releases
  • Press office
  • Contact us

Discover content

  • Journals A-Z
  • Articles by subject
  • protocols.io
  • Nature Index

Publishing policies

  • Nature portfolio policies
  • Open access

Author & Researcher services

  • Reprints & permissions
  • Research data
  • Language editing
  • Scientific editing
  • Nature Masterclasses
  • Research Solutions

Libraries & institutions

  • Librarian service & tools
  • Librarian portal
  • Open research
  • Recommend to library

Advertising & partnerships

  • Advertising
  • Partnerships & Services
  • Media kits
  • Branded content

Professional development

  • Nature Awards
  • Nature Careers
  • Nature Conferences

Regional websites

  • Nature Africa
  • Nature China
  • Nature India
  • Nature Japan
  • Nature Middle East
  • Privacy Policy
  • Use of cookies
  • Legal notice
  • Accessibility statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Your US state privacy rights
Springer Nature

© 2026 Springer Nature Limited

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing