Author Identifier (ORCID)
Tsuyoshi Nagatani: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2187-157X
Shayne Vial: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9235-8979
Kristina L. Kendall: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6872-7335
Paul Comfort: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1131-8626
G. Gregory Haff: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0676-7750
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to use a bivariate functional principal component analysis (bfPCA) to quantify hip-knee joint movement patterns and assess their relationship with power clean performance. Thirty strength-power athletes completed a one repetition maximum (1RM) power clean test where hip and knee joint angle data from the heaviest successful lift were recorded and analysed using bfPCA. Three principal components were extracted, primarily reflecting variability in hip joint angle throughout the pull (pattern 1), knee joint angle at the starting position (pattern 2), hip-knee joint motion from the middle of the first pull through to the end of the second pull (pattern 3). Correlation analyses revealed no significant or meaningful correlations between power clean performance and patterns 1 or 2 (r = −0.10 and 0.04, p = 0.60 and 0.85, respectively), suggesting that inter-individual differences in starting position may not negatively impact power clean performance. However, pattern 3 was weakly but significantly correlated with power clean performance (r = 0.39, p = 0.03), with higher-performing lifters displaying movement patterns characterised by a more upright torso at the power position and a more controlled, prolonged first pull. These findings suggest that coaches focus on these aspects of the movement to potentially maximise power clean performance.
Keywords
Biomechanics, kinematics, principal component analysis, weightlifting
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Sports Biomechanics
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
Exercise Medicine Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
Funders
Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in SPORTS BIOMECHANICS on 21st January 2026, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14763141.2025.2603400
Nagatani, T., Vial, S., Kendall, K. L., Comfort, P., & Haff, G. G. (2026). Functional data analysis of joint coordination during the pull of the power clean. Sports Biomechanics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2025.2603400