Abstract
Background: This study aimed to explore the differences in the distributions of plantar pressure in static and dynamic states and assess the possible pain profiles in the lower limb between elite rugby league athletes and recreational rugby players. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 51 college elite rugby athletes and 57 recreational rugby players was undertaken. The arch index (AI) and plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) with footprint characteristics were evaluated via the JC Mat. Rearfoot alignment was examined to evaluate the static foot posture. The elite group’s lower-limb pain profiles were examined for evaluating the common musculoskeletal pain areas. Results: The recreational group’s AI values fell into the normal range, whereas the elite group’s arch type fell into the category of the low arch. Results from the elite group were: (1) the PPDs mainly exerted on the entire forefoot and lateral midfoot regions in static standing, and transferred to the forefoot region during the midstance phase of walking; (2) the static rearfoot alignment matched the varus posture pattern; (3) the footprint characteristics illustrated the features of low-arched, supinated, dropped metatarsal heads and dropped cuboid feet; and (4) the phalanx and metatarsophalangeal joints, and the abductor hallucis and abductor digiti minimi of the plantar plate were common musculoskeletal pain areas. Conclusions: Characteristics of higher plantar loads beneath forefoot and midfoot associated with low-arched supinated feet in bipedal static stance could be the traceable features for the foot diagram of elite rugby league athletes. The limb pain profiles of the elite rugby league athletes within this study echoed the literature on rugby injuries, and reflected the features of metatarsophalangeal joint pains and dropped cuboids. The relationships among the low-arched supinated feet, metatarsophalangeal joint pains and cuboid syndrome are worth further studies.
Highlights
Overload of plantar pressure may lead to soft tissue degeneration, such as fat pads of the foot during exercise [1]
This study aimed at establishing the overall reliability of the relationships among the arch index (AI), the plantar pressure distributions (PPDs) and the rearfoot postural alignment of college elite rugby athletes during static standing and walking
Research participants comprised 108 male college and university students in Taiwan, who were categorized into two groups: 51 elite rugby league athletes and 57 healthy, age-matched recreational rugby players
Summary
Overload of plantar pressure may lead to soft tissue degeneration, such as fat pads of the foot during exercise [1]. This may increase the risk of foot disease development in adults and children [2]. The fifth metatarsal fractures are podiatric problematic for professional soccer athletes [5]. Muscle fatigue in footballers is believed to be at the core of developing metatarsal stress fractures because of the increased load on the forefoot of runners in a state of fatigue [6]. Commonly referred to a ‘Jones Fracture’, is a common podiatric
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