Effects of a novel inclined-adaptive footwear on change-of-direction performance in male athletes

Chi-Hsien Chen; Giancarlo Condello; Wei-Han Chen; Tsung-Han Liu; Antonio Tessitore; Tzyy-Yuang Shiang; Chiang Liu

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.03.010

Effects of a novel inclined-adaptive footwear on change-of-direction performance in male athletes

Gait Posture. 2022 May:94:189-194. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.03.010. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Authors

Chi-Hsien Chen¹, Giancarlo Condello², Wei-Han Chen³, Tsung-Han Liu⁴, Antonio Tessitore⁵, Tzyy-Yuang Shiang⁶, Chiang Liu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Institute of Sports Equipment Technology, University of Taipei, No.101, Section 2, Jhongcheng Road, Shinlin District, Taipei City 111, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: og1653gama@gmail.com.
² Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy. Electronic address: giancarlo.condello@gmail.com.
³ Graduate Institute of Sports Equipment Technology, University of Taipei, No.101, Section 2, Jhongcheng Road, Shinlin District, Taipei City 111, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: gn01800083@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, No.162, Section 1, Heping East Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City 116, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Shoe and Bag Business, Victor Rackets Industrial Corporation, 1 F., No.3-2, Lane 67, Section 3, Nangang Road, Nangang District, Taipei City 115, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: johan0728@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis.15, 00135, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.tessitore@uniroma4.it.
⁶ Department of Athletic Performance, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. No.88, Section4, Ting-jou Road, Taipei city 116, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: tyshiang@ntnu.edu.tw.
⁷ Graduate Institute of Sports Equipment Technology, University of Taipei, No.101, Section 2, Jhongcheng Road, Shinlin District, Taipei City 111, Taiwan, ROC; Center for Sport Science and Technology, National Tsing Hua University, No.101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: cliu@utaipei.edu.tw.

PMID: 35358827
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.03.010

Abstract

Background: Although enhancing change of direction (COD) performance is a crucial factor for improving athletic performance in many sports, few studies have explored its effective methods.

Research question: This study aimed to investigate the effects of inclined-adaptive footwear (IAF) on force-time characteristics during a COD task.

Methods: Thirteen male team sport athletes were randomly assigned to wear IAF or footwear without adaptive technology to perform a COD60° task at their best effort. A three-dimensional force plate was used to obtain the force-time curve and related parameters at the turning step (plant foot).

Results: IAF led to a significantly higher resultant ground reaction force (GRF), horizontal GRF, vertical GRF, and horizontal/vertical ratio during the braking phase, followed by a significantly shorter contact time and higher resultant horizontal GRF and vertical GRF during the propulsive phase.

Significance: This indicated that a greater GRF output, redistributed GRF, and shorter contact time occurred with the IAF. Therefore, IAF has the potential to enhance COD performance for sports involving multi-directional footwork and contribute to the development of new functional footwear.

Keywords: Cutting movement; GRF distribution; Sneakers; Team sports; Wedge shoe.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Athletes*
Athletic Performance*
Biomechanical Phenomena
Foot
Humans
Lower Extremity
Male