title: Effects of mat characteristics on plantar pressure patterns and perceived mat properties during landing in gymnastics.
abstract: Shock absorption and stability during landings is provided by both, gymnast ability and mat properties. The aims of this study were to determine the influence of different mat constructions on their energy absorption and stability capabilities, and to analyse how these properties affect gymnast's plantar pressures as well as subjective mat perception during landing. Six mats were tested using a standard mechanical drop test. In addition, plantar pressures and subjective perception during landing were obtained from 15 expert gymnasts. The different mats influenced plantar pressures and gymnasts' subjective perception during landing of gymnasts. Significant correlations between plantar pressures at the medial metatarsal and lateral metatarsal zones of the gymnasts' feet with the different shock absorption characteristics of the mats were found. However, subjective perception tests were not able to discriminate mat functionality between the six mats as no significant correlations between the mechanical mat properties with the subjective perception of these properties were found. This study demonstrated that plantar pressures are a useful tool for discriminating different landing mats. Using similar approaches, ideally including kinematics as well, could help us in our understanding about the influences of different mats upon gymnast-mat interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Physical Education, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pérez-Soriano
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llana-Belloch
authors.forename: Gaspar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morey-Klapsing
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Perez-Turpin
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cortell-Tormo
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van den Tillaar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004867:Equipment Design; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013499:Surface Properties; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*