In this study, we aimed to explore the correlation between movement coordination and sprint velocity and the mediating effects of stride length and frequency on this correlation. Thirty-two male college students (16 athletes and 16 non-athletes) participated in this study. Movement coordination was calculated using a vector coding method for intralimb (hip - knee, knee - ankle) and interlimb (hip - hip, knee - knee, ankle - ankle). There was a significant effect of group on hip - knee, hip - hip and ankle - ankle coupling angle during braking phase and knee - knee coupling angle during the propulsive phase. In all participants, the hip - hip coupling angle during the braking phase was positively correlated with sprint velocity, and the ankle - ankle coupling angle during the braking phase was negatively correlated with sprint velocity. Stride length mediated the relationship between hip - hip coupling angle and sprint velocity. In conclusion, the anti-phase of the hip - hip coupling angle and the swing phase of the ankle - ankle coupling angle may contribute to sprint velocity. Moreover, the correlation between hip - hip coupling angle and sprint velocity was related to stride length rather than stride frequency.
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