Plantar Stress-Related Injuries in Male Basketball Players: Variations on Plantar Loads during Different Maximum-Effort Maneuvers

Abstract

This study aims to compare the insole load of three maximum-effort cutting tasks in basketball. Sixteen male basketball players were recruited to participate in the study. The Pedar Mobile system was used to record the insole plantar load distribution during three cutting tasks (45° cutting, 90° cutting, and sideward cutting). The peak pressures (PP) and maximum force (MF) at the total foot and at each foot mask were used in data analysis. ANOVA with repeated measures was employed to investigate the differences in the measures among these cutting tasks. At the total foot, the highest MF value was showed when performing sideward cutting. At the heel, the highest PP and MF were found when performing 90° cutting. The PP and MF were lower when performing 90° cutting than when conducting 45° and sideward cuttings at the medial midfoot and the central forefoot. Furthermore, the MF value was lower when performing 45° cutting than when conducting sideward cutting at the medial midfoot and the central forefoot. These findings corroborate the fact that plantar loads differed during the three maximum-effort cutting maneuvers. Differences in the plantar loads for different cutting may be potential risks for overuse-related injuries to the lower extremities of basketball players.