SHOE EFFECTS ON IMPACTS AND MUSCLE RESPONSES IN LOWER EXTREMITY DURING DIFFERENT LANDING TASKS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of basketball shoes on impact force and lower limb muscle activity during landings. Twelve male subjects were requested to wear two types of shoes to execute drop jumps and unexpected drop landings. Ground reaction forces, accelerations of the shoe heel-counter, and EMG signals of five lowerlimb muscles were collected simultaneously. During active landing, the intervention of basketball shoe did not significantly change the characteristics of impact force and muscle activity patterns. However, under the condition of related muscles were not being activated properly, the basketball shoe reduced the impacts and decreased the muscle postactivation. This potential effect of footwear may further be developed in preventing sports injury and enhancing metabolic efficiency during landings and/or when fatigued.