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While the hip abductors and adductors do play a role in “steering” the body, the engine that really drives the movement is the coordinated hip and knee extension act…
…) first produce force while lengthening (to decelerate), and then while shortening (to accelerate). However, the quadriceps are the most important muscles in the deceleration phase, while the hip extensors are key for the acceleration phase.
…using a range of other methods, we can see that change of direction ability is determined primarily by the deceleration phase, and only secondarily by the acceleration phase.