The effects of different shoes on plantar forces in Irish dance

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different footwear on plantar loading in Irish dance. Participants were 12 open class dancers (the highest level) who were actively engaged in Irish dance competition. Subjects had a mean of 9.2 ± 2.1 years of experience in Irish dance. All dancers completed one bar of a set phrase in each of three shoes: Irish dance soft shoe, hard shoe, and a dance trainer. The order in which the shoes were tested was counterbalanced with a Latin square design. The variables compared were maximum force, maximum pressure, and impulse. Data were collected at 100 Hz using a Pedar insole pressure sensor system. Values were analyzed for the whole foot, forefoot, and rearfoot. Significant differences between shoe types were observed in impulse (p < 0.01) and maximum pressure (p < 0.01), with the trainer exhibiting lower values than the other shoes. Differences were also found between shoes in loading on regions of the foot (p < 0.01), with forefoot values highest in the soft shoe. The footwear choice had a significant effect on the measured kinetics of the dancers. The trainer displayed significantly lower values for kinetics than did the soft shoe. Thus, it may be a safer (less injurious) choice for daily training.