Effects of high and low cut footwear on the kinetics and 3D kinematics of basketball specific motions

Abstract

The aim of the current investigation was to examine the effects of high- and low-cut basketball-specific footwear, in relation to minimalist and conventional athletic footwear, on the kinetics and three-dimensional (3D) kinematics of sport-specific basketball movements. Ten males performed run and 45 ∘
∘
cut movements, whilst wearing low-cut, high-cut, minimalist and conventional athletic footwear. 3D kinematics of the lower extremities were measured using an eight-camera motion analysis system, alongside the vertical rate of loading, which was obtained using an embedded force platform. Footwear differences in 3D kinematic and loading rate parameters were examined using 4 (footwear) ×2
×2
(movement), repeated measures ANOVA. The results showed that loading rate was significantly larger in the minimalist footwear (run=239.45
run=239.45
and cut=221.94
cut=221.94

BW/s), in relation to the low-cut (run=144.02
run=144.02
and cut=216.58
cut=216.58

BW/s), high-cut (run=163.83
run=163.83
and cut=192.11
cut=192.11

BW/s) and conventional (run=140.32
run=140.32
and cut=170.83
cut=170.83

BW/s) conditions. In addition, it was also revealed during the run movement that peak angles of eversion were reduced significantly when wearing the high-cut (−11.14 ∘
−11.14∘
) footwear, compared to the low-cut (−13.71 ∘ )
(−13.71∘)
, minimalist (−13.13 ∘ )
(−13.13∘)
and conventional (−13.75 ∘ )
(−13.75∘)
conditions. The findings from the current investigation indicate that from an injury prevention context, conventional athletic footwear may be most appropriate for basketball players who are susceptible to chronic impact-related injuries, and high-cut footwear may be most suitable for players who require additional medial/lateral ankle stability.