IMPULSE AND PROFILE OF GROUND REACTION FORCES IN BASKETBALL MANEUVERS IN NEW AND STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED SHOES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report typical ground reaction force curves and mean impulse in both new shoes and shoes with obvious structural damage. Ground reaction forces for eight maneuvers (forward, backward, as well as right and left cutting, side shuffling and diagonal backward motion) were recorded on two separate occasions. Typical force profiles were discussed as they differed between the new shoes and damaged shoes in each of the maneuvers. Mean total vertical impulse, subtracting out the product of body mass across total contact time, was significantly higher in cutting both forward and backward motions with the damaged shoes. Conversely mean vertical impulse was significantly lower in the side shuffle and reversal of direction for the damaged shoes. It was concluded that impulse and force curves change in shoes that are damaged through normal wear.