The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2022 Mar 01

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.22.13644-3

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

The influence of soccer shoes on plantar distribution in young players in a static condition. A pilot study

Giuseppe MESSINA ¹, Francesco POMARA ², Luca PETRIGNA ¹ ✉, Maria C. PICCIONE ², Silvia CASERTA ², Marco PETRUCCI ², Antonio PALMA ¹, Antonino BIANCO ¹

¹ Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; ² Medeor Research Institute, Palermo, Italy

BACKGROUND: Injuries are a serious problem in soccer for the player but also for the society. It has been noted most of the injuries occurs during non-contact situations and, the soccer shoes have an important role. Unfortunately, few studies investigated the plantar distribution, argument that could help to deeply understand the causes behind the injuries. The objective was to evaluate the influence of the soccer shoes on plantar distribution in young players in a static condition.
METHODS: Young soccer players (range 11-18) were recruited and performed two tests on a baropodometric platform, one barefoot and one with technical soccer shoes. A student’s t-test was performed to evaluate the differences between the conditions.
RESULTS: Significative results were between the left plantar surface (p<0.05) and in the total surface anterior (p<0.05) with and without the soccer shoe. Related to the pressure values, soccer shoes resulted higher than barefoot condition. Significativity has been found also between the forefoot and the rearfoot in the left foot, in barefoot condition (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Soccer shoes generally produce a reduction in the contact plantar surface, especially in the anterior zone and the foot load is higher in the forefoot zone.

KEY WORDS: Football; Force platform; Youth; Prevention; Performance