Sticking the landing: A comparison of shod vs barefoot landing kinetics and foot muscle characteristics in gymnasts, cheerleaders, and non-athletes.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The ability to control landings and stabilize quickly is essential in sports like gymnastics and cheerleading, where landing quality impacts scores. The similarities and contrasts between these sports, where one trains primarily barefoot and the other shod, may increase understanding of the kinetic role of the foot during landings.

Design

Sixteen gymnasts (GYM), sixteen cheerleaders (CHR), and sixteen non-athletes (NAT) performed single-foot shod and barefoot drop landings onto a force plate.

Method

Foot muscle strength was assessed using a custom test and ultrasound imaging was used to measure six foot muscles. Group differences in muscle sizes and strength measurements were compared using one-way ANOVAs (α = 0.05). Landing mechanics metrics were evaluated

SUBMITTER: Ridge ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11451975 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature