High-Top Shoes Reduce Ankle Inversion Injury Risk: Pressure and Kinematic Analysis during Sudden Inversion
Jialu Zhang1,2, Taoping Bai1,2, Lin Feng1,2
1Sichuan Province Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory, Chengdu, 610065, China.
Purpose:
This study aimed to simulate accidental ankle inversion in sports and compare the effects of high-top and low-top shoes on rearfoot kinematics and plantar pressure distribution to understand the ankle protection mechanism of high-top shoes.
Methods:
Eight pairs of shoes (four high-top and four low-top shoes) were custom-made from four brands. The high-top shoes were 3 cm higher than the low-top ones, whereas the rest of their structure remained the same as that of the low-top shoes. Twenty male amateur basketball players (age 19 ± 1 years, height 180 ± 5 cm) participated. An extreme inversion of 30° was simulated using an electromagnetically controlled platform. The rearfoot angles and velocities were recorded using high-speed cameras, and plantar pressure was measured using a three-channel pressure sensor.
Results:
High-top shoes significantly reduced the peak rearfoot inversion angles (A brand, 7.56%; B brand, 19.61%; C brand, 9.15%; D brand, 8.36%; p < 0.05) and peak angular velocities (A brand, 4.48%; B brand, 14.92%; C brand, 3.67%; D brand, 4.70%; p < 0.05). Peak angular velocity occurred 0.005-0.01 s earlier in high-top shoes. No significant differences were observed in plantar pressure distribution.
Conclusion:
High-top shoes reduce ankle inversion range and speed through mechanical support, potentially aided by neuromuscular regulation, thus decreasing the load on lateral ligaments. This study provides evidence for optimizing shoe collar height in sports shoe design and highlights the importance of collar support in reducing the risk of ankle inversion injuries during sports.
