Influence of metatarsophalangeal joint stiffness on take-off performances and lower-limb biomechanics in jump manoeuvres

Effects of Barefoot and Shod Conditions on the Kinematics and Kinetics of the Lower Extremities in Alternating Jump Rope Skipping-A One-Dimensional Statistical Parameter Mapping Study

PURPOSE

To explore the difference in the biomechanics of the lower extremity during alternating jump rope skipping (AJRS) under barefoot and shod conditions.

METHODS

Fourteen experienced AJRS participants were randomly assigned to wear jump rope shoes or be barefoot (BF) during the AJRS at a self-selected speed. The Qualisys motion capture system and Kistler force platform were used to synchronously collect the ground reaction forces and trajectory data of the hip, knee, ankle, and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. One-dimensional statistical parameter mapping was used to analyze the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremity under both conditions using paired t-tests.

RESULTS

Wearing shoes resulted in a significant decrease in the ROM (p < 0.001) and peak angular velocity (p < 0.001) of the MTP joint during the landing phase. In addition, the MTP joint power (p < 0.001) was significantly larger under shod condition at 92-100% of the landing phase. Moreover, wearing shoes reduced the peak loading rate (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that wearing shoes during AJRS could provide better propulsion during push-off by increasing the MTP plantarflexion joint power. In addition, our results emphasize the significance of the ankle and MTP joint by controlling the ankle and MTP joint angle.

Shoe Bending Stiffness Influence on Lower Extremity Energetics in Consecutive Jump Take-Off

Objective

This study examined the influence of shoe bending stiffness on lower extremity energetics in the take-off phase of consecutive jump.

Methods

Fifteen basketball and volleyball players wearing control shoes and stiff shoes performed consecutive jumps. Joint angle, angular velocity, moments, power, jump height, take-off velocity, take-off time, and peak vertical ground reaction force data were simultaneously captured by motion capture system and force platform. Paired t-tests were performed on data for the two shoe conditions that fit the normal distribution assumptions, otherwise Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Results

There are significant differences (P < 0.05) in take-off velocity and take-off time between stiff and control shoe conditions; the stiff shoes had faster take-off velocity and shorter take-off time than control shoes. There was no significant difference between two conditions in jump height (P = 0.512) and peak vertical ground reaction force (P = 0.589). The stiff shoes had significantly lower MTP dorsiflexion angle and greater joint work than the control shoes (P < 0.05). The MTP range of motion and maximum angular velocity in stiff shoe condition were significantly lower than those in control shoe condition (P < 0.01). However, there are no significant differences between two conditions in kinetics and kinematics of the ankle, knee, and hip joint.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that wearing stiff shoes can reduce the effect of participation of the MTP joint at work and optimize the energy structure of lower-limb movement during consecutive jumps.