Distribution of in-shoe dynamic plantar foot pressures in professional football players

Abstract

At two football venues, 35 professional football players, aged 17 to 30, took part in a study. The aim was to compare in-shoe dynamic plantar foot pressures between football boots and trainers by investigating relationships between area, force and pressure. The study showed a decreased plantar foot area of 9.3% in the left football boot when compared to the trainer and 7.2% in the right. Maximum pressure was 35% higher in football boots when compared to trainers. Similarly, mean pressure was 27.6% higher in football boots. The study suggests that a reduced football boot surface area may be responsible for the increased forces and pressures within football boots when compared to trainers.