The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop

Static and dynamic foot function can be evaluated using easy-to-implement, low-cost measurements like arch height index (AHI) and navicular drop (ND). Connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity kinematics/kinetics have largely focused on gait. Some studies exist evaluating basketball players; ho...

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Main Authors: Catherine I. Cairns, Douglas W. Van Citters, Ryan M. Chapman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biomechanics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/4/4/55
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author Catherine I. Cairns
Douglas W. Van Citters
Ryan M. Chapman
author_facet Catherine I. Cairns
Douglas W. Van Citters
Ryan M. Chapman
author_sort Catherine I. Cairns
collection DOAJ
description Static and dynamic foot function can be evaluated using easy-to-implement, low-cost measurements like arch height index (AHI) and navicular drop (ND). Connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity kinematics/kinetics have largely focused on gait. Some studies exist evaluating basketball players; however, these predominantly focus on men. To our knowledge, few studies evaluate female athletes, and none have investigated connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity biomechanics in elite female basketball players. Thus, we conducted an IRB-approved observational investigation of 10 female, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 basketball players, evaluating connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity biomechanics during basketball activities. Participants completed one visit wherein bilateral AHI/ND measurements and kinematics/kinetics were captured via optical motion capture and force-instrumented treadmill during basketball activities (walking, running, vertical/horizontal jumping, side shuffles, 45° cuts). No connections existed between the AHI and any variable during any task. Contrastingly, ND was statistically significantly correlated with medial/lateral force maximum and range during left cutting. This implies that individuals with stiffer feet produced more side-to-side force than those with more foot mobility during cutting. This is the first report connecting ND to lower-extremity biomechanics in elite, female basketball players. This could inform novel interventions and technologies to improve frontal kinematics/kinetics.
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spelling doaj-art-a90fc75edbec4e5fb0de89a549ed9da42025-08-20T02:01:04ZengMDPI AGBiomechanics2673-70782024-12-014475076410.3390/biomechanics4040055The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular DropCatherine I. Cairns0Douglas W. Van Citters1Ryan M. Chapman2Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USAThayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USADepartment of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USAStatic and dynamic foot function can be evaluated using easy-to-implement, low-cost measurements like arch height index (AHI) and navicular drop (ND). Connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity kinematics/kinetics have largely focused on gait. Some studies exist evaluating basketball players; however, these predominantly focus on men. To our knowledge, few studies evaluate female athletes, and none have investigated connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity biomechanics in elite female basketball players. Thus, we conducted an IRB-approved observational investigation of 10 female, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 basketball players, evaluating connections between AHI/ND and lower-extremity biomechanics during basketball activities. Participants completed one visit wherein bilateral AHI/ND measurements and kinematics/kinetics were captured via optical motion capture and force-instrumented treadmill during basketball activities (walking, running, vertical/horizontal jumping, side shuffles, 45° cuts). No connections existed between the AHI and any variable during any task. Contrastingly, ND was statistically significantly correlated with medial/lateral force maximum and range during left cutting. This implies that individuals with stiffer feet produced more side-to-side force than those with more foot mobility during cutting. This is the first report connecting ND to lower-extremity biomechanics in elite, female basketball players. This could inform novel interventions and technologies to improve frontal kinematics/kinetics.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/4/4/55arch height indexnavicular dropforcebasketballfootankle
spellingShingle Catherine I. Cairns
Douglas W. Van Citters
Ryan M. Chapman
The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop
Biomechanics
arch height index
navicular drop
force
basketball
foot
ankle
title The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop
title_full The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop
title_fullStr The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop
title_full_unstemmed The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop
title_short The Relationship Between Foot Anthropometrics, Lower-Extremity Kinematics, and Ground Reaction Force in Elite Female Basketball Players: An Exploratory Study Investigating Arch Height Index and Navicular Drop
title_sort relationship between foot anthropometrics lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction force in elite female basketball players an exploratory study investigating arch height index and navicular drop
topic arch height index
navicular drop
force
basketball
foot
ankle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7078/4/4/55
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