Matching running footwear features to the functional needs of specific groups of runners stratified according to their training status or running experience has the potential to improve footwear ...preference, enhance running performance, and reduce the risk of running-related injuries. The complexity of modern running shoes in combination with the various functional needs of specific groups of runners, however, introduces many confounding factors, disguising what an appropriate shoe design should entail. As a result, it is crucial to identify and synthesise the effects of systematically modified running footwear features on lower extremity biomechanics, performance, injury risk, and footwear preference in runners of different skill levels to advance the knowledge of running biomechanics and footwear. The databases Scopus and PubMed were searched for related studies and 895 articles were identified. After the application of exclusion criteria, 68 articles remained and were arranged in a matrix that highlighted the investigated footwear feature and runner level. The effects of 20 footwear features on lower extremity biomechanics, injury, performance, and preference in novice, recreational, and high calibre runners were synthesised. Laced uppers with harder midsole materials in the forefoot/lateral regions of the shoe and softer materials in the rearfoot/medial regions increased comfort and thus likely preference. To increase performance, footwear should be constructed as lightweight as possible, and implement a range of different bending stiffness for individual needs. Injury risks at the knee joint were reduced in footwear with thinner midsoles. For high calibre runners, specifically, insoles should be custom moulded to the shape of the foot, and special attention needs to be payed to the elasticity of the upper, in order to avoid detrimental shifts in running patterns.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Unlike explicit learning, analogy learning allows learners to acquire skills with a movement metaphor with fewer verbal knowledge accumulated during early learning, resulting in less reliance on ...cognitive resources for better motor performances. However, the efficacy of analogical instruction on balance is still unclear. This study examined learning and subsequent performance (including posturography) of a Y-balance task by explicit and analogical instructions. Forty female undergraduates were randomly assigned either into analogy (n = 20) or explicit (n = 20) learning. Both group learners completed pre-learning test-block on Day 1 (6 trials), five consecutive learning blocks from Days 3 to 7 (135 trials) and followed by test-blocks on Day 9 (retention 1 - dual-task - retention 2 design, 18 trials). Maximum reaching distances in anterior, posterolateral and posteromedial directions were measured to indicate Y-balance performance. During test-blocks (pre-learning, retention 1, dual-task, retention 2), CoM displacement and CoP excursion were quantified with the motion capturing system and force platform, respectively. Results indicated that maximum reach distances of two groups increased across learning days (p < .001). During test-blocks, explicit learners reduced maximum reaching distances under the dual-task test than the retention test 1 (p < .001), while analogy learners remained robust performance across test-blocks (p = .071). Moreover, analogy learners reported fewer explicit knowledge and demonstrated better counting backward performance than explicit learners. These findings suggest that introducing an analogical instruction in dynamic balance training is feasible and has implications to develop balance training strategies for injury prevention and performance enhancement.
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FSPLJ, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Due to conflicting data from previous studies a new methodological approach to evaluate heel pad stiffness and soft tissue deformation has been developed. The purpose of this study was to compare ...heel pad (HP) stiffness in both limbs between males and females during a dynamic unloading and loading activity. Ten males and 10 females volunteered to perform three dynamic trials to unload and load the HP. The dynamic protocol consisted of three continuous phases: foot flat (baseline phase), bilateral heel raise (unloading phase) and foot flat (loading phase) with each phase lasting two seconds. Six retroreflective markers (3 mm) were attached to the skin of the left and right heels using a customised marker set. Three‐dimensional motion analysis cameras synchronised with force plates collected the kinematic and kinetic data throughout the trials. Three‐way repeated measures ANOVA together with a Bonferroni post hoc test were applied to the stiffness and marker displacement datasets. On average, HP stiffness was higher in males than females during the loading and unloading phases. ANOVA results revealed no significant differences for the stiffness and displacement outputs with respect to sex, sidedness or phase interactions (p > .05) in the X, Y and Z directions. Irrespective of direction, there were significant differences in stiffness between the baseline and unloading conditions (p < .001) but no significant differences between the baseline and loaded conditions (p = 1.000). Post hoc analyses for the marker displacement showed significant differences between phases for the X and Z directions (p < .032) but no significant differences in the Y direction (p > .116). Finally, females portrayed lower levels of mean HP stiffness whereas males had stiffer heels particularly in the vertical direction (Z) when the HP was both unloaded and loaded. High HP stiffness values and very small marker displacements could be valuable indicators for the risk of pathological foot conditions.
Representative figure of Mean sex differences in the vertical (Z) plane showing the left and right heel pad stiffness during the bodyweight loading phases (baseline Z1, unloading Z2 and Loading Z3) at each location (lateral, central and medial) with error bars (± SD) (n = 20).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The previous studies on basketball landing have not shown a systematic agreement between landing impacts and midsole densities. One plausible reason is that the midsole densities alone used to ...represent the cushioning capability of a shoe seems over simplified. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of different landing heights and shoes of different cushioning performance on tibial shock, impact loading and knee kinematics of basketball players.
Nineteen university team basketball players performed drop landings from different height conditions (0.45m vs. 0.61m) as well as with different shoe cushioning properties (regular, better vs. best-cushioned). For each condition, tibial acceleration, vertical ground reaction force and knee kinematics were measured with a tri-axial accelerometer, force plate and motion capture system, respectively. Heel comfort perception was indicated on the 150-mm Visual Analogue Scale. A 2 (height) x 3 (footwear) ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to determine the effects of different landing heights and shoe cushioning on the measured parameters.
We did not find significant interactions between landing height and shoe conditions on tibial shock, impact peak, mean loading rate, maximum knee flexion angle and total ankle range of motion. However, greater tibial shock, impact peak, mean loading rates and total ankle range of motion were determined at a higher landing height (P < 0.01). Regular-cushioned shoes demonstrated significantly greater tibial shock and mean loading rate compared with better- and best-cushioned shoes (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis indicated that the heel comfort perception was fairly associated with impact peak and mean loading rate regardless of heights (P < 0.05), but not associated with tibial shock.
Determination of shoe cushioning performance, regardless of shoe midsole materials and constructions, would be capable in order to identify optimal shoe models for better protection against tibial stress fracture. Subjective comfort rating could estimate the level of impact loading in non-laboratory based situations.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This present review includes a systematic search for peer-reviewed articles published between March 2009 and March 2020 that evaluated the effects of wearable devices with biofeedback on the ...biomechanics of running. The included articles did not focus on physiological and metabolic metrics. Articles with patients, animals, orthoses, exoskeletons and virtual reality were not included. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 417 articles were first identified, and nineteen were selected following the removal of duplicates and articles which did not meet the inclusion criteria. Most reviewed articles reported a significant reduction in positive peak acceleration, which was found to be related to tibial stress fractures in running. Some previous studies provided biofeedback aiming to increase stride frequencies. They produced some positive effects on running, as they reduced vertical load in knee and ankle joints and vertical displacement of the body and increased knee flexion. Some other parameters, including contact ground time and speed, were fed back by wearable devices for running. Such devices reduced running time and increased swing phase time. This article reviews challenges in this area and suggests future studies can evaluate the long-term effects in running biomechanics produced by wearable devices with biofeedback.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
While it is not uncommon for athletes to use foot orthoses to relieve pain and improve sports performance, little has been known about their effects on basketball performance. Free-throw basketball ...shooting is very important. However, fatigue deteriorates postural balance which might decrease free-throw shooting performance. This study investigated the effects of foot orthoses on dynamic balance and accuracy performance during free-throw shooting before and after physical fatigue was induced. Thirteen male recreational basketball players were tested with two foot orthoses (medial-arch support versus flat control) and fatigue conditions (before and after fatigue), when they performed standard free-throw shooting on a force platform. Results revealed that fatigue significantly increased coefficient of variance of medial-lateral center of pressure (CoP) excursion when participants worn flat control orthoses (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, foot orthoses improved dynamic balance during shooting as they significantly reduced total resultant and anterior-posterior sway excursions as well as resultant and anterior-posterior CoP velocities, and base of support area. Although this study found that fatigue and orthoses did not significantly affect the scores gained by free-throw shooting, the significant improvements in dynamic balance during shooting with the use of foot orthoses could have considerable impact on motor control during basketball shooting.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Older adults walk with a shorter stride length, reduced hip range of motion (ROM) and higher cadence. These are signs of reductions in walking ability. This study investigated whether using a ...wireless smart insole system that monitored and provided biofeedback to encourage an extension of swing time could increase stride length and hip flexion, while reducing the cadence. Seven older adults were tested in this study, with and without the biofeedback device, in an outdoor environment. Gait analysis was performed by using GaitRite system and Xsens MVN. Repeated measures analysis demonstrated that with biofeedback, the swing time increased by 6.45%, stride length by 4.52% and hip flexion by 14.73%, with statistical significance. It also decreased the cadence significantly by 5.5%. This study has demonstrated that this smart insole system modified positively the studied gait parameters in older adults and has the potential to improve their walking ability.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study examined the effect of wearing time on comfort perception and landing biomechanics of basketball shoes with different midsole hardness. Fifteen basketball players performed drop landing ...and layup first step while wearing shoes of different wearing time (new, 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-week) and hardness (soft, medium and hard). Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed on GRF, ankle kinematic and comfort perception variables. Increased wearing time was associated with poorer force attenuation and comfort perception during landing activities (p < 0.05). The new shoes had significantly smaller forefoot (2- and 4-week) and rearfoot peak GRF impacts (all time conditions) in drop landing and smaller rearfoot peak GRF impact (6- and 8-week) in layup; shoes with 4-week of wearing time had significantly better perceptions of forefoot cushioning, forefoot stability, rearfoot cushioning, rearfoot stability and overall comfort than the new shoes (p < 0.05). Compared with hard shoes, the soft shoes had better rearfoot cushioning but poorer forefoot cushioning (p < 0.05). Shoe hardness and wearing time would play an influential role in GRF and comfort perception, but not in ankle kinematics. Although shoe cushioning performance would decrease even after a short wearing period, the best comfort perception was found at 4-week wearing time.
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BFBNIB, FSPLJ, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Owing to intermittent/acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, highland miners may often suffer, the physiological characteristics between highland and lowland miners, however, are rarely reported. The ...objective of this study was to compare the physiological characteristics of coal miners working at disparate altitudes.
Twenty-three male coal mining workers acclimating to high altitude for 30 ± 6 days in Tibet (highland group; approx. 4500 m above sea level; 628.39 millibar), and 22 male coal mining workers in Hebei (lowland group; less than 100 m above sea level; 1021.82 millibar) were recruited. Tests were conducted to compare ventilatory parameters, circulation parameters, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and heart rate variability (HRV) indices between the two groups in resting state.
Ventilation volume per minute (VE) of the highland group was markedly raised compared to that of the lowland group (11.70 ± 1.57 vs. 8.94 ± 1.97 L/min,
= 0.000). In the meanwhile, O2 intake per heart beat (VO2/HR) was strikingly decreased (3.54 ± 0.54 vs. 4.36 ± 0.69 ml/beat,
= 0.000). Resting metabolic rate relevant to body surface area (RMR/BSA) was found no significant difference between the two groups. Evident reduction in standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) and remarkable increase in ratio of low- and high- frequency bands (LF/HF) were manifest in highland miners compared to that of lowland ones (110.82 ± 33.34 vs. 141.44 ± 40.38,
= 0.008 and 858.86 ± 699.24 vs. 371.33 ± 171.46,
= 0.003; respectively).
These results implicate that long-term intermittent exposure to high altitude can lead miners to an intensified respiration, a compromised circulation and a profound sympathetic-parasympathetic imbalance, whereas the RMR in highland miners does not distinctly decline.
Red is perceived as a "winning color", which may influence actual and perceived performances in sports, but little effort has been done to assess the added value on colored foot insoles in basketball ...movements. This study examined if colored foot insole would influence perceived comfort and lower extremity biomechanics during drop landing. Nineteen male basketball players performed drop landing trials with different insoles (red arch-support, white arch-support, and white-flat) and landing heights (0.45 and 0.61 m). Two-way (Insole x Height) ANOVAs with repeated measures were performed on each of the knee and ankle angles and moments variables. Wearing red arch-support insoles induced better perception of forefoot and rearfoot cushioning and overall comfort but smaller plantarflexion moment than the white-flat insoles (
< 0.05). Increased landing height was related to higher ground reaction loading, sagittal flexion angles, range of motion, and joint moments but smaller ankle eversion (
< 0.05). Findings indicate that foot insoles might have influenced comfort perception and joint kinetics, but not joint kinematics. The use of red color in foot insoles could potentially maximize the effectiveness of foot insoles in a way that alters comfort perception and motor control during landing, with implications for risk of injury.
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