Publication details
Plantar Pressure Distribution Shift During Adolescence In Soccer Players
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://www.tojet.net/special/2015_9_1.pdf |
| Field | Sport and leisure time activities |
| Keywords | plantar pressure; distribution; soccer; football; foot arch; comparison; ontogeny; emed; dynamic plantography |
| Description | This study examines plantar pressure distribution in football players. The goals ware to determine the condition of footballers’ feet, to observe tendencies in transformation of the foot during adolescence and to link the feet condition with the sport of football. For the purposes of this research we measured 41 footballers playing at a semi-professional level. These players were divided into three age groups – into groups of 11, 16 and 21 years of age. Data were collected by dynamic plantography, using emed platform. We evaluated data measuring several values: the time of foot contact with the platform, maximum forces exerted on the platform, peak pressures acting on the platform and areas of the footprints. These values were observed in all three categories, separately for each leg. The results of this thesis show that significant changes in the footballer’s feet take place especially between eleven and sixteen years of age. These changes may be caused mainly due to ontogeny. As a possible impact of sport specialization on the feet of athlete, we admit two changes. The first one is transfer of athlete’s weight towards the front of the foot and the second one is an intensive use of outer part of the feet, both observed amongst the older players. To confirm our assumptions there is a need for further studies. |