The effects of sport-specific and minimalist footwear on the kinetics and kinematics of three netball-specific movements

Sinclair, J.; Chockalingam, N.; Naemi, R.; Vincent, H.

Abstract

Netball is associated with a high frequency of chronic injuries. There is currently a trend towards the utilisation of minimalist footwear in netball players in lieu of traditional netball trainers. The aim of the current investigation was to examine the influence of netball-specific and minimalist footwear on the kinetics and three-dimensional (3-D) kinematics of three sport specific movements. Twelve female netballers performed three movements, run, cut and vertical jump, whilst wearing a conventional netball trainer and also a minimalist trainer. 3-D kinematics of the lower extremities were measured using an eight-camera motion analysis system alongside kinetic information which was obtained using a force platform. Kinetic/3-D kinematic differences between movements wearing different footwear were examined using paired t-tests. The kinetic analysis revealed that impact parameters were significantly greater in the minimalist footwear in comparison to the netball shoe for all three movements. In addition peak ankle eversion was shown to be significantly greater in the minimalist footwear in the running movement condition. The current study therefore suggests that the utilisation of minimalist footwear for netball training/performance may place netballers at increased risk from chronic injuries based on which a continued utilisation of netball-specific footwear may be recommended.

Citation

Sinclair, J., Chockalingam, N., Naemi, R., & Vincent, H. (2014). The effects of sport-specific and minimalist footwear on the kinetics and kinematics of three netball-specific movements. Footwear Science, 7(1), 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424280.2014.983445

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 30, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Dec 12, 2014
• Publication Date: Dec 12, 2014
• Deposit Date: Apr 14, 2024
• Journal: Footwear Science
• Print ISSN: 1942-4280
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 31-36
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19424280.2014.983445