The Effect of Footwear on Free Moments During a Rotational Movement in Country Swing Dance

Footwear in dance has been studied for support and cushioning, but little research has been conducted on free moments, which may result from high frictional coefficients. Conversely, insufficient friction between shoes and floors may increase the risk of falls and compromise dance performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of different types of footwear with different coefficients of friction on peak and average free moments during a rotational movement in country swing dance. Fifteen country swing dancers completed a rotational movement under four footwear conditions: barefoot, rubber-bottom boots, leather-bottom boots, and running shoes. The peak and average free moments applied to the left and right legs were measured using two force plates. Coefficients of static friction between different shoes and force plate surfaces were quantified and found to be greater for the rubber-bottom boots and running shoes than the leather-bottom boots. For the left (push off) leg, free moments were greater for the running shoe and rubber-bottom boot conditions compared to the barefoot and leather-bottom boot conditions. For the right (rotating) leg, free moments were greatest for the running shoe condition, second greatest for the barefoot and rubber-bottom boot conditions, and least for the leather-bottom boot condition. The leatherbottom boots may decrease twisting loads resulting from free moments. Coefficients of friction and free moments should be considered for future longitudinal studies to investigate potential cause-effect relationships among footwear, potential for injury, and dance performance.