Gender Differences in Plantar Loading During an Unanticipated Side Cut on FieldTurf.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether force-time integral (FTI) and maximum force (MF) are significantly different between genders when performing an unanticipated side cut on FieldTurf.

DESIGN

Thirty-two collegiate athletes (16 men and 16 women) completed 12 unanticipated cutting trials, while plantar pressure data were recorded using Pedar-X insoles.

SETTING

Controlled Laboratory Study.

PARTICIPANTS

Division I cleated sport athletes with no previous foot and ankle surgery, no history of lower extremity injury in the past 6 months, and no history of metatarsal stress fracture.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maximum force and the FTI in the total foot, medial midfoot (MMF), lateral midfoot (LMF), medial forefoot (MFF), middle forefoot (MiddFF), and the lateral forefoot (LFF).

RESULTS

Males had a greater FTI beneath the entire foot (TF) (P < 0.001). Females had a significantly higher MF beneath the LMF (P = 0.001), MiddFF (P < 0.001), and LFF (P = 0.001). Males had a significantly greater MF beneath the MMF (P = 0.003) and greater FTI beneath the MMF (P < 0.001) and MFF (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in plantar loading exist between genders with males demonstrating increased loading beneath the TF in comparison with females. Females had overall greater loading on the lateral column, whereas males had greater loading on the medial column of the foot.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study indicate that plantar loading is different between genders; therefore, altering cleated footwear to be gender specific may result in more optimal foot loading patterns. Optimizing cleated shoe design could decrease the risk for metatarsal stress fractures.