Influence of flat feet on the lateral movements of tennis players.

IF 2 3区医学 Q3 ENGINEERING, BIOMEDICAL

Sports Biomechanics Pub Date : 2025-02-10 DOI:10.1080/14763141.2025.2458487

Kyoma Tanigawa, Daiki Watanabe, Takanobu Saito, Hiroki Shimizu, Shinichi Kawamoto, Momoko Nagai-Tanima, Tomoki Aoyama

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of flat feet on the lateral movements of tennis players. Lateral footwork is crucial in tennis, and variations in the athletes' physical characteristics can affect footwork efficiency. Flat feet hinder forward propulsion; however, their relationship to lateral propulsion remains unclear. Thus, this study focused on foot morphology among other physical traits. Seventeen male university tennis players were evaluated using the navicular drop test and categorised into the flat foot (eight participants) and normal foot (nine participants) groups. The kinematic and kinetic data during the crossover step movements were collected using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and force plates. Although no significant intergroup differences in lateral propulsion, represented by the lateral peak acceleration of the centre of mass, were observed, individuals with flat feet exhibited significantly higher ankle maximum dorsiflexion angles and maximum eversion moments than those with normal feet. Individuals with flat feet are likely to compensate for functional deficits by increasing muscle activity, which may increase the risk of injury. Further research on muscle activity during sports movements and injury prevalence is necessary to improve the prevention and treatment strategies.

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来源期刊

Sports Biomechanics 医学-工程：生物医学

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

9.10%

发文量

135

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Sports Biomechanics is the Thomson Reuters listed scientific journal of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS). The journal sets out to generate knowledge to improve human performance and reduce the incidence of injury, and to communicate this knowledge to scientists, coaches, clinicians, teachers, and participants. The target performance realms include not only the conventional areas of sports and exercise, but also fundamental motor skills and other highly specialized human movements such as dance (both sport and artistic). Sports Biomechanics is unique in its emphasis on a broad biomechanical spectrum of human performance including, but not limited to, technique, skill acquisition, training, strength and conditioning, exercise, coaching, teaching, equipment, modeling and simulation, measurement, and injury prevention and rehabilitation. As well as maintaining scientific rigour, there is a strong editorial emphasis on ''reader friendliness''. By emphasising the practical implications and applications of research, the journal seeks to benefit practitioners directly. Sports Biomechanics publishes papers in four sections: Original Research, Reviews, Teaching, and Methods and Theoretical Perspectives.