EFFECT OF FOOTWEAR ON CENTER OF PRESSURE MOVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE IN RIFLE SHOOTING

Abstract

In the rifle shooting disciplines, the offhand (standing) position is considered one of the most difficult of competitive events because rifle and body movements are harder to control and minimize compared to more stable shooting positions. Shooters attempt to increase stability by relying on a static skeleton that is dependent on the adopted postural position as well as the apparel worn by the shooter. In the offhand position, competitive shooters have pushed the limits of the rules by relying on specialized shoot ing apparel in order to stabilize and reduce the body's natural tendency to sway and fatigue (Buhlman et al., 2002). One article of clothing that is commonly worn is a specialized shooting boot. The contribution to which the boot makes to postural stability and shooting performance is unclear. The purpose of this study was to objectively measure the effect of footwear on the stability and performance in rifle shooting in the offhand position.