KINEMATICS OF FOOT-SHANK COMPLEX IN “KENDO” AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOT ARCH HEIGHT

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate 1）the joint couple of foot-shank complex in the kendo motion and 2）the relationship between the kinematic values and the foot arch height. Seventeen experienced kendo athletes volunteered to participate in the study. We instructed the participants to perform three sets of kendo strike-thrust motion with the distance of 2.2m to the target. We obtained joint kinematic data of the foot eversion-inversion and shank rotation angles to the foot during the single support phase of the kendo motion. Our result demonstrated that the foot inversion and shank external rotation movements occur during the single stance phase in experienced kendo athletes in good health. In addition, the foot arch height –length ratio was significantly related to the total range of shank rotation to the foot.