[Soccer: Second Striker Edition] Part 1: Eliminate Sensory Noise—Sharpening the 'Body Map' through Neutral Posture
[Authors] Kenji Yoshikawa (Representative of B.C Lab / Doctor of Chiropractic, D.C.) × Hajime Kubo (Medical Liaison Advisor of B.C Lab / Medical Doctor, Ph.D.) Co-authored
Data science inferred from posture analysis and initial movement analysis:
A second striker (SS) who slips through the defensive net near the penalty area (vital area) to perform decisive work requires extreme agility and ultimate precision in ball touch. Any hesitation in the initial movement or the slightest error in a trap means the immediate disappearance of shooting space.
#### ① Biomechanical Analysis and Data Analysis Results
When a second striker breaks through a defensive net, the brain integrates information from 'proprioceptors (mechanoreceptors)' located in muscles and joints throughout the body to determine the next movement in milliseconds. According to data science analysis, when the spine is misaligned, specific receptors are excessively stretched or compressed, causing 'noise (error signals)' to mix into the information sent to the brain. In initial movement analysis, second strikers who show hesitation in their actions are not suffering from a lack of muscle strength, but from 'brain calculation delays' caused by this information error. Securing a neutral position and aligning the spine is nothing less than updating the body map in the brain to be as sharp as a 4K image. Clear sensory input is the physical foundation for 'elusive' movements that stay one step ahead of the opponent.
#### ② B.C Lab's Coaching & Insole Approach
At B.C Lab, we clear the noise (sensory noise) running through the 'body schema' in the brain by keeping the alignment of the pelvis and spine neutral. By normalizing sensory input from the soles of the feet with insoles and optimizing muscle tone throughout the body, we realize ball touches exactly as imagined and efficient initial movements in '0 seconds'.
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References:
Tuthill JC, Azim E. (2018). Proprioception. Curr Biol.
Hashtags: #Posture #SecondStriker #Proprioception #Soccer #DataScience #BCLab