title: Effect of midsole thickness of dance shoes on dynamic postural stability.
abstract: Landing from jumps is one of the main causes of injury within dance. A number of studies have reported a negative effect of shoe midsole thickness on lower limb kinematics during running due to the reduction in afferent sensory outputs from the foot's epithelium. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of varying midsole thicknesses in dance shoes on dynamic postural stability during a single-leg landing. Twenty-eight female undergraduate dance participants volunteered for the study. They carried out three trials under four conditions: barefoot and in ballet flats (2 mm midsole thickness), jazz shoes (7 mm), and dance sneakers (30 mm). The task consisted of a single-leg forward jump over a hurdle at 50% of their maximal vertical jump height, landing on a force platform, and balancing for 3 seconds. The stability indices for vertical stability (VSI), anterior-posterior stability (APSI), medial-lateral stability (MLSI), and dynamic postural stability (DPSI) were calculated using Wikstrom's revised method. Significant differences were reported between the midsole thicknesses for both DPSI and VSI (p<0.01). No statistical differences were noted for the indices SPSI or MLSI. The present data agree with the running studies in that increased midsole thickness has a negative influence on landing stability.
authors: Research Centre for Sport Exercise and Performance, University of Wolverhampton, Gorway Rd., Walsall, West Midlands WS1 3BD, UK. Tel 44 01902-323144. m.wyon@wlv.ac.uk.
authors: Matthew A
authors: MA
authors: Wyon
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Cloak
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Lucas
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Clarke
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011312:Pressure; D012775:Shoes; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult