Effect of football cleat stud shape, sex and fatigue state on plantar loading during lateral cutting

Consequential interactions at the cleat-surface interface are associated with non-contact torsional injury mechanics, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, in football.This study investigates the effect of sex and fatigue on plantar pressure distribution and centre of pressure excursion in cleated footwear geometries of higher (bladed) and lower (elliptical) available traction to better understand the aetiology of female injury patterns.

College-aged football participants (10 male, 10 female) performed a fatiguing running and cutting protocol in cleated footwear of different stud shapes. Insole pressure was recorded during intermittent lateral cuts across a multistage fatigue protocol. Peak plantar pressure during the initial cutting stance and centre of pressure trajectory across the full cutting stance were compared across both cleat types and with fatigue progression.

Significant main and interaction effects of sex, cleat and fatigue were found on peak pressure across the anterior heel, medial forefoot and lateral toes. Results suggest elliptical cleats increased peak pressure during the initial cutting stance compared with bladed cleats. Systemic fatigue progression increased the mediolateral centre of pressure excursion and posterolateral peak pressure. This posterolateral deviation is largest among females in the bladed cleat, potentially indicative of instability.

Results suggest optimising cleated footwear for female athletes during their most susceptible fatigued state. Data suggest improving lateral and posterior stud arrangement on a female-informed cleat design to reduce posterolateral excursion during cutting stance.