KINETIC AND KINEMATIC CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERING HEEL HEIGHT DURING CRICKET MEDIUM-FAST BOWLING

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: During a cricket bowling delivery, the major impact with the pitch occurs at front foot impact (FFI), generating forces approximately 5.7 times body weight (BW) in the vertical plane and 3.5 BW in the horizontal plane. (Hurrion et al. 2000). Although cricket footwear has been acknowledged by researchers as worthy of investigation, to date there is no research published to inform of the potential for injury prevention. Bartold (2005) found when investigating midsole height in football footwear that a graduated rise of 1cm altered lower limb muscle activity and reduced peak pressures under the foot during treadmill running. Associated altered kinematics reported by Bartold (2005) is in accordance with reports by Eslami et al. (2005) who found a 0.4cm posterior wedge can be utilised to alter the angular variability of the subtalar joint and its proximal joints and segments in their respective planes of movement during single limb stance.