Ski Boots Do Not Impair Standing Balance by Restricting Ankle-Joint Mobility

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics and sensorimotor control
• Human locomotion and balance
• Sports injury prevention

Background:

• Previous research on high-shaft (HS) ski boots and postural control yielded conflicting results.
• Studies often reported impairments due to ankle restriction without quantifying boot effects or postural adaptations.
• Lack of clarity on how ski boots influence the sensorimotor system during postural tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sensorimotor control of posture while wearing HS ski boots.
• To provide new insights into the effects of ski boots on postural stability.
• To clarify the controversial findings regarding ski boots and balance.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen healthy subjects participated in postural control assessments.
• Evaluated balance on stable and unstable surfaces, barefoot and in ski boots.
• Measured center of pressure (COP) parameters, joint kinematics, and muscle EMG activity.

Main Results:

• Ski boots did not restrict ankle angular movement amplitude.
• Significant impacts on COP parameters and EMG activity were observed on stable ground.
• Enhanced frontal plane postural control (mediolateral instability) was evident with ski boots.

Conclusions:

• Ski boots do not impair balance by restricting ankle motion.
• Complex mechanical, motor, and sensory adaptations occur with ski boots.
• Postural control is impeded on stable ground but not on unstable surfaces.