Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics of Proficient and Non-Proficient 2-Point and 3-Point Basketball Shooters

The purpose of this study was to examine kinetic and kinematic characteristics of various types of 2-point and 3-point basketball shooting approaches and determine which variables have the greatest contribution in discriminating proficient (PRO) from non-proficient (N-PRO) shooters. While standing on a force plate, twenty-nine recreationally active males performed a total of 1740 shots by utilizing stationary and step-in shooting approaches. Two high-definition cameras were used to simultaneously capture kinematic parameters of shooting motions. The type of shooting approach showed as a non-influential factor. During the preparatory phase of the shooting motion, PRO 2-point shooters demonstrated higher elbow and basketball height placements, greater flexion in the shoulder and elbow joints while attaining greater release and entry ball angles during the release phase. PRO 3-point shooters demonstrated greater elbow flexion, higher basketball placement, and less hip flexion during the preparatory phase while attaining greater heel, release, and trajectory heights during the release phase. When entered into a full-model discriminant function analysis, elbow angle, elbow height, and release angle variables correctly classified PRO from N-PRO 2-point shooters in 62.1% of cases and hip angle, heel height, and elbow angle variables correctly classified PRO from N-PRO 3-point shooters in 81.6% of cases.

The Influence of Heel Height on Strain Variation of Plantar Fascia During High Heel Shoes Walking-Combined Musculoskeletal Modeling and Finite Element Analysis

The therapeutic benefit of high heel shoes (HHS) for plantar fasciitis treatment is controversial. It has been suggested that plantar fascia strain can be decreased by heel elevation of shoes which helps in body weight redistribution throughout the length of the foot. Yet it is a fact that the repetitive tension caused by HHS wearing resulting in plantar fasciitis is a high-risk disease in HHS individuals who suffer heel and plantar pain. To explore the biomechanical function on plantar fascia under HHS conditions, in this study, musculoskeletal modeling (MsM) and finite element method (FEM) were used to investigate the effect of heel height on strain distribution of plantar fascia. Three-dimensional (3D) and one-dimensional (1D) finite element models of plantar fascia were generated to analyze the computed strain variation in 3-, 5-, and 7-cm heel heights. For validation, the computed foot contact pressure was compared with experimental measurement, and the strain value on 1D fascia was compared with previous studies. Results showed that the peak strain of plantar fascia was progressively increased on both 3D and 1D plantar fascia as heel elevated from 3 to 7 cm, and the maximum strain of plantar fascia occurs near the heel pain site at second peak stance. The 3D fascia model predicted a higher strain magnitude than that of 1D and provided a more reliable strain distribution on the plantar fascia. It is concluded that HHS with narrow heel support could pose a high risk on plantar fasciitis development, rather than reducing symptoms. Therefore, the heel elevation as a treatment recommendation for plantar fasciitis is questionable. Further studies of different heel support structures of shoes to quantify the effectiveness of heel elevation on the load-bearing mechanism of plantar fascia are recommended.

Der Effekt von Action Observation Therapy auf die Extension nach einer vorderen Kreuzbandplastik: eine randomisierte kontrollierte Pilotstudie

ZusammenfassungEine bekannte Komplikation nach einer Plastik des vorderen Kreuzbandes (VKB) ist das Extensionsdefizit (ED). Ziel dieser Studie war, zu erforschen, ob eine zusätzlich zu den klassischen Streckübungen eingesetzte einmalige Anwendung der „Action Observation Therapy“ (AOT) die Extension des Kniegelenks nach einer VKB-Plastik deutlicher verbessert als eine Therapiesitzung ohne AOT.13 Proband(inn)en mit ED nach einer VKB-Plastik wurden in eine AOT-Gruppe (n = 8) und eine Kontrollgruppe (n = 5) randomisiert. Jede Gruppe erhielt eine Therapiesitzung. Die Therapie bestand aus dem Betrachten eines Videos, gefolgt von aktiven Extensionsübungen, wobei das Video der AOT-Gruppe Extensionsübungen und das der Kontrollgruppe Landschaftsaufnahmen zeigte. Primäres Outcome war das Bewegungsausmaß der aktiven Extension, als sekundäre Outcomes wurden das Bewegungsausmaß der passiven Extension und die Heel-Height Difference (HHD) gemessen. Die Messungen erfolgten direkt vor und nach der Behandlung.Die aktive Extension verbesserte sich sowohl in der AOT-Gruppe (von ∅ –2,0° (± 6,3) auf ∅ 0,8° (± 3,9), p = 0,036) als auch in der Kontrollgruppe (von ∅ –8,2° (± 5,5) auf ∅ –5,6° (± 4,7), p = 0,049). Die aktive Extension war in der AOT-Gruppe nach der Intervention signifikant besser als in der Kontrollgruppe (p = 0,023). Für die passive Extension und die HHD gab es keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen beiden Gruppen.Bei Patient(inn)en nach einer VKB-Plastik zeigte sich in der Gruppe mit AOT eine bessere aktive Knieextension als in der Kontrollgruppe ohne AOT. Weitere Arbeiten mit einer größeren Stichprobe und einer längeren Verlaufskontrolle sind notwendig, um diese Ergebnisse zu bestätigen.

New Affordable Method for Measuring Angular Variations Caused by High Heels on the Sagittal Plane of Feet Joints during Gait

Gait is influenced by many factors, but one of the most prominent ones is shoe heel height. Optical motion tracking technology is widely used to analyze high-heeled gait, but it normally involves several high-quality cameras and licensed software, so clinics and researchers with low budgets cannot afford them. This article presents a simple, effective technique to measure the rotation angles on the sagittal plane of the ankle (tibiotalar) and toe (metatarsophalangeal) joints when no shoes (0 cm heel) and high-heeled shoes (2, 6 and 10 cm heels) are worn. The foot’s position was determined by a set of equations based on its geometry and video analysis techniques with free software (Tracker). An evaluation of the spatio-temporal variables confirmed observations from previous studies: increasing heel heights reduces gait cycle length and speed but does not change cadence. The range of movement at the tibiotalar joint progressively narrowed from 28° when no heel height was worn to 9° when a 10 cm heel was used, and these reductions ranged from 30° to 5° for metatarsophalangeal joints, respectively. This aligns with other authors’ previous studies, and confirms that the proposed method accurately measures kinematic ankle–foot set changes when wearing high heels.

Effects of Wearing High Heels on Ankle Plantarflexion

Wearing High Heels (HH) for prolong period may cause kinetics and kinematics changes of lower extremity. It may lead to musculoskeletal deformities.Objective:To determine the effects of wearing different high heel shoes on ankle joint plantar flexion range.Methadology: 120 healthy university students who habitually wore shoes of different heel heights from 1cm to 10cm for at least 1 academic year, more than 5 days a week were selectively recruited. Participants were grouped according to their heel heights: flat, low, mid and high heels. Ankle plantarflexion was measured using universal goniometer in all 4 groups.Results:Overall plantarflexion range was significantly affected by heel height (p-value <0.001). Wearing high heel s s ignificantly inc reased the plantar flexion range as compared to flat shoe wearers (p-value <0.001). There was statistically significant difference in plantarflexion range according to heel height (p<0.001).Conclusion: Wearing high heels shoes for 1 year enhanced the plantarflexion range of motion in all heel groups and the change was most significant in HH group. Habitually wearing of high heels increases the plantarflexion range of motion in heel wearing groups but it was not seen in flat shoes group (FSG). Increase in range depends on heel height; increasing the heel height results into increase plantarflexion range. Keywords: High heels; Heel height; Plantarflexion ; Range of motion

Health View to Decrease Negative Effect of High Heels Wearing: A Systemic Review

Effective recommendations about how to decrease adverse effects of high heels (HH) need to be provided, since wearing HH is inevitable for most women in their daily life, regardless of their negative impacts on the foot morphology. The main purpose of this systematic review was to summarize studies which have provided specific information about how to effectively offset the negative effects of wearing HH, in the case of women, by means of examining heel height, insole, and heel base support (HBS). Some evidence indicate the following: (i) the range of appropriate heel height for HH shoes is 3.76 cm to 4.47 cm; (ii) compared to small HBS, the larger ones effectively increase gait stability, reduce risk of ankle injury, and improve comfort rating during HH walking; and (iii) the use of a total contact insert (TCI) significantly decreases plantar pressure and the impact on the foot, resulting in higher perceived comfort. It must be noted that these results are based on short-term research; therefore, any conclusions with regard to effects in the long term should be taken with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, future studies should be aimed at combining numerical and experimental methods, in order to provide personal recommendations for HH shoes by considering heel height and HBS size, based on the individual characters (weight, height, and age).