Effect of the foot-strike pattern on the sagittal plane knee kinetics and kinematics during the early phase of cutting movements

•Sagittal plane knee mechanics differed between foot-strike patterns.•Shallower knee flexion occurred in rearfoot strike than in forefoot strike in cutting.•Ground reaction force vector directed anteriorly to shank axis in rearfoot strike.•Larger knee extension moment occurred after initial contact in rearfoot strike.•Rearfoot strike had a potentially higher risk for ACL injury than forefoot strike. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury occurs soon after foot-strike. Cutting with a shallow flexed knee is considered a risk factor for ACL injury; however, how foot-strike patterns (forefoot strike [FFS] vs. rearfoot strike [RFS]) affect sagittal plane knee kinetics and kinematics after a foot-strike, is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of foot-strike patterns on the sagittal plane knee kinetics and kinematics during cutting. Twenty-three males performed 45° cutting under RFS and FFS conditions. The marker position data on the lower limb, and the ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected and time-normalized (0–100%) during the stance phase. The knee flexion angle, shank and GRF vector inclination angle relative to the global vertical axis, knee flexion/extension moment, and anterior/posterior component of GRF relative to the shank segment were calculated and compared between foot-strike patterns using statistical parametric mapping paired t-test (p