Assessment of patterns and variability in lower extremity coordination between genders with different shoe insole stiffness during jump-landing tasks

Abstract

PurposeThe study aims to examine how shoe insole cushioning can influence coordination pattern and variability in males and females during the landing phase of a jump-landing task. Methods. Twenty participants (10 males and 10 females) performed jump-landing tasks, and the continuous relative phase (CRP) and the variability of CRP in foot-shank and shank-thigh couplings were determined during the landing phase.ResultsWomen represented lower CRP and CRP variability of foot-shank coupling in non-insole conditions (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Shoe insole stiffness had no significant effect on CRP or variability in CRP (<i>p</i> > 0.05).ConclusionsAlthough females are characterised by lower coupling variability in non-insole conditions, they do have the capacity to achieve similar coordination patterns and variability as males, in soft and hard conditions. These findings suggest that with changes in the shoe insole, females can achieve similar joint coupling coordination patterns and variability as compared with males under soft and stiff conditions. In addition, as per this study, changes in shoe insole stiffness may not have an impact on coordinative strategies or variability of lower extremity joints couplings during landing.