The Relationship between Stud Morphology and 5th Metatarsal Proximal Stress Fractures on Soccer Players

Abstract

This research sets out to define the relationship between stud morphology of soccer shoes and 5th metatarsal proximal stress fractures on soccer players by comparison and analysis. After the pre-survey of 132 soccer players in Gwangju, 107 players who seem to have a 5th metatarsal fracture were selected. We investigated the shape of the studs and asked whether they had ever had a 5th metatarsal proximal stress fracture. We also asked them some questions on factors, which cause stress fracture, such as what position they play, how long they have been playing soccer as athletes and average playing time. And we analyzed correlation between these several factors and whether they had ever had stress fracture using chi-square (x2) test and Logistic regression analysis. We concluded that soccer players who wore bar type studs shoes had a much greater possibility of stress fracture than soccer players who wore the round type. Also we learned that soccer players who play mid-fielder have a much greater possibility of stress fracture than soccer players who play other positions. And the result of logistic regression analysis of relevance between soccer shoes stud morphology and stress fracture shows a statistically significant odd ratio, 6.840. It has been suggested that the morphology of the soccer shoes stud has relevance to the occurrence of stress fracture. Therefore, according to the result of this study, soccer shoes with the round shape are more helpful in preventing 5th metatarsal proximal stress fracture than soccer shoes with the bar shape.