A comparison of cleat types during two football-specific tasks on FieldTurf.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of different cleat plate configurations on plantar pressure during two tasks.


METHODS
Thirty-six athletes ran an agility course 5 times while wearing 4 different types of Nike Vitoria cleats: (1) bladed, (2) elliptical firm ground, (3) hard ground and (4) turf. Plantar pressure data were recorded during a side cut and a cross cut using Pedar-X insoles.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study


METHODS
No history of lower extremity injury in the past 6 months, no previous foot or ankle surgery, not currently wearing foot orthotics and play a cleated sport at least twice a week.


METHODS
Total foot contact time, contact area, maximum force, peak pressure and the force-time integral (FTI) in the medial, middle and lateral regions of the forefoot were collected. A 1x4 ANOVA (alpha = 0.05) was performed on each dependent variable. A Bonferroni adjustment was conducted (alpha = 0.008).


RESULTS
In the cross cut task, statistical differences between cleats were observed in three variables: total foot peak pressure, lateral forefoot FTI, and lateral forefoot normalised maximum force. In the side cut task, statistical differences between cleats were observed in 4 variables: total foot peak pressure, the medial and middle forefoot FTI, and the medial and middle forefoot normalised maximum force.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences in forefoot loading patterns existed between cleat types. Based on the results of this study, it might be beneficial to increase the forefoot cushioning in cleats in an attempt to decrease loading in these regions of the foot.
Queen
R M
RM
Michael W Krzyzewski Human Performance Laboratory, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. robin.queen@duke.edu
Charnock
B L
BL
Garrett
W E
WE
Hardaker
W M
WM
Sims
E L
EL
Moorman
C T
CT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D011403:Pronation / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012775:Shoes; D019876:Sports Equipment; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*