Evaluation of the shoe-surface interaction using an agility maneuver

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Science
• Human Movement Analysis

Background:

• Traction between athletic footwear and playing surfaces is crucial for performance and injury prevention.
• Increased traction can elevate impact forces on lower extremity structures, while decreased traction may hinder athletic maneuvers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how variations in the coefficient of friction (CoF) influence both subjective and objective performance metrics during an agility task.
• To determine the optimal CoF for executing a functional agility maneuver.

Main Methods:

• Thirty participants performed a standardized agility test across a range of CoF conditions (0.3 to 0.7).
• Performance was assessed using a force plate to measure objective biomechanical data and a questionnaire for subjective feedback.

Main Results:

• Agility task completion time decreased as CoF increased, reaching optimal performance at CoF 0.5.
• Peak forces and subjective performance scores increased with CoF up to 0.5.
• CoF values of 0.5 and above did not result in statistically significant improvements in performance.

Conclusions:

• A coefficient of friction of 0.5 is adequate for performing the tested agility maneuver.
• Increasing CoF beyond 0.5 does not enhance performance in this specific task.
• Further research is needed to establish definitive guidelines for safe and effective shoe-surface interactions in sports.