Foot tapping and unilateral vertical jump performance in athletes after knee surgery: an explorative cross-sectional study

Biomechanical effects of foot orthoses on jump landing performance: A systematic review

Jumping is involved in a wide range of sports and activities, and foot orthoses (FO) are suggested to enhance performance and prevent injury. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether using FO with different modifications affects jump landing biomechanics and improves performance in healthy individuals. The search strategy included 7 databases that identified 19 studies. The study quality was evaluated using a modified Downs and Black index. The primary outcome measures were joint kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity, vertical jump height, and horizontal jump distance. Our findings indicated that incorporating arch support with a rearfoot post and softer forefoot region into FO may improve several biomechanical variables during jump landing activities. Improvements in vertical ground reaction force loading rates, knee and ankle kinematics, and muscle cocontraction during jumping with FO could enhance jumping performance. In addition, improvements in hip, knee, ankle, and tibial kinematics and vertical ground reaction force loading rates during landing could reduce impact forces and related injuries. Although a limited number of studies have addressed the effects of FO on vertical jump height and horizontal jump distance, inserting such FO inside shoes with optimum bending stiffness could facilitate jumping performance. A rigorous exploration of the effect and mechanism of FO designs on jumping performance could benefit jumping-related activities and prevent ankle and knee injuries.

Beurteilung des neuromuskulären Funktionszustands bei Berufssportlern

In den letzten Jahren wurden bedeutende Fortschritte in den chirurgischen Techniken, der postoperativen Rehabilitation und der Identifizierung von Risikofaktoren für eine zweite Verletzung des vorderen Kreuzbands (VKB) gemacht. Dies führte jedoch nicht zu einer Verringerung des sekundären VKB-Verletzungsrisikos. Die Wiederherstellung der anatomischen (operative Rekonstruktion) und anschließend insbesondere der trainingsbedingten funktionellen Stabilität sollte eine grundlegende Voraussetzung für die Rückkehr zu Pivot-Sportarten nach einer VKB-Verletzung sein. Das VKB hat eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Kniepropriozeption mit der Konsequenz einer eingeschränkten sensomotorischen Regulation im Verletzungsfall. Das Perturbationstraining stellt eine große Herausforderung in der spätrehabilitativen Phase nach VKB-Rekonstruktion dar. Die Diagnostik der Muskelaktivierung im Rehabilitationsverlauf nach VKB-Rekonstruktion hat deshalb eine enorme Bedeutung. Mit der entwickelten Software können Charakteristika der motorischen Einheiten knieführender Muskeln zeitnah objektiviert und somit eine mögliche Überlastung bei hochreaktivem Perturbationstraining im Rahmen der spätrehabilitativen Phase nach VKB-Rekonstruktion vermieden werden.

A Simple Field Tapping Test for Evaluating Frequency Qualities of the Lower Limb Neuromuscular System in Soccer Players: A Validity and Reliability Study

Over the years, the foot tapping test protocol has been proposed by scientists to identify the capabilities of the lower limb neuromuscular system in the medical context; however, to our knowledge, no studies have established its usefulness and relationship to athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to test the reliability, criterion validity and sensitivity of a new foot tapping (TAP) test, and to examine its relationship with proxies of athletic performance in soccer players. Forty voluntary soccer players of two different levels participated in this study (20 players from the national level: age: 22.6 ± 2.5 years and 20 players from regional level: 25.1 ± 3.6 years). They performed the TAP test on two separate occasions to test its relative and absolute reliability. To examine the criterion validity of the TAP test, all participants performed four types of jumps, sprint tests, agility tests, the Wingate test and the finger tapping test considered a gold standard tapping test. The sensitivity was assessed with national and regional player levels. The TAP test presented a high relative and absolute reliability with intra-class correlation coefficient ICC > 0.90, standard errors of measurement SEM < 5% and mean difference ±95% limits of agreement equal to 0.2 ± 0.8 tap·s−1. National level players showed a higher TAP score (p < 0.001; dz = 1.96, large) compared to regional players (9.68 ± 1.41 tap·s−1 vs. 7.28 ± 1.01 tap·s−1, respectively) and the value of area under curve measured by the receiver operating characteristic curve technique was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.827−0.990). The TAP test showed a significant association with the finger tapping test (r = 0.84, p < 0.001), whereas no correlation was seen between the TAP test and all the other physical tests measured. The TAP test could be considered a valid and reliable test to assess lower limb neuromuscular ability in soccer players.