ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2012 April;171(2):143-56

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

An investigation into the role of a footwear intervention program for professional footballers: an intra-club control and intervention study

Kinchington M. ¹, Ball K. ², Naughton G. ³

¹ School of Human Movement, Recreation & Performance, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; ² School of Human Movement, Recreation & Performance, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; ³ The Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Australia

Aim. Footwear comfort has been shown to affect musculoskeletal comfort and injury. The purpose of the study was to examine the role of footwear in a football environment between two groups at an intra-club level. The hypothesis for the study was the use of a turf shoe for rugby league training results in improved lower limb comfort compared to training in a conventional football boot.
Methods. Aspects of lower limb comfort associated with footwear were examined in a cohort of National Rugby League players (N=53) from one club over one season. The design of the study was a non-randomised clinical trial. Using a participant preference method, two groups were formed. An intervention group used a designated style of training shoe over the season and a control group used a regular football boot.
Results. The results indicated a designated style of training shoe had benefits when lower limb comfort was compared between the intervention and control groups (P<0.0001), sustained fewer time loss events, mean 1.7 (SD 1.2) v 3.9 (SD 1.5), and players participated in more training sessions (P<0.0001) and matches (P=0.002).
Conclusion. These results indicate a designated training shoe may have protective qualities for the lower limb and has the capacity as an instrument of a tailored footwear program to aid the lower limb comfort of footballers.