Sex-Based Differences in Plantar Pressure Distribution to Inform Soccer Cleat Design
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Saing, Audrey
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Abstract
Existing soccer cleats on the market are biased towards male biomechanical data, which may hinder female soccer players’ performance. This study explores plantar pressure differences between males and females during tasks that simulate dynamic match play with future application to female-centric cleat design. Ten males and nine females were instructed to run a fatiguing protocol on artificial turf. This modified Gauntlet protocol included straight running and changes in direction in five stages of decreasing distance from 1600 m to 100 m. During the third (400 m) stage, plantar pressure data were collected using pedar® insoles in a pair of soccer cleats. Plantar pressure data during four cutting steps and six straight running steps were used to calculate force-time integral normalized to body weight (FTI) in nine anatomical regions of the foot. Independent t-tests were conducted to determine if sex had a significant effect on FTI in each region of the foot. During cutting maneuvers, females had a significantly lower FTI in the medial forefoot (p = 0.029) and significantly higher FTI in the central forefoot compared to males (p = 0.006). While running straight, females had a significantly lower FTI in the medial forefoot (p = 0.016) and lesser toes (p =0.002) than males, while females had significantly higher FTI in the medial hindfoot (p = 0.008), lateral hindfoot (p = 0.002), and medial midfoot (p = 0.007) than males. Future female soccer cleat designs might include modified studs or adapted insole materials in the central forefoot area to best distribute plantar pressure loading while performing dynamic multiplanar movements.
Description
Single page poster
Keywords
soccer, plantar pressure, sex differences, force-time integral, sports science