Br J Sports Med. Published Online First: 12 June 2007. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2007.036707
Tennis issue |
Effects of the playing surface on plantar pressures and potential injuries in tennis
1 EA 2991, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Montpellier, France
2 ASPIRE, Academy for Sport excellence, Doha, Qatar
3 ASPIRE, Academy for Sport Excellence, Doha, Qatar
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: olivier.girard{at}univ-montp1.fr.
Accepted 28 May 2007
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the influence of different playing surfaces on in-shoe loading patterns during tennis-specific movements.
Methods: Ten experienced male players performed two type of tennis-specific displacements (serve and volley (SV) and baseline play (BA)) on two different playing surfaces; e.g. clay v Greenset. Max and mean force and pressure, contact time, contact area and relative load were recorded by an insole with 99 sensors (X-Pedar system) and divided into 9-areas.
Results: Regarding the whole foot, mean force (SV: 615 ± 91 v 724 ± 151 N; -12.4%, p<0.05 and BA: 614 ± 73 v 717 ± 133 N; -11.6%, p<0.05) was lower on clay than on Greenset, whereas contact time was longer (SV: 299 ± 113 v 270 ± 148 ms; +16.5%, NS and BA: 354 ± 72 v 272 ± 60 ms; +30.3%, p<0.001). Greenset induced higher loading in hallux (SV: +15.3%, p<0.05 and BA: +11.4%, NS) and lesser toes areas (SV: +12.6%, p<0.05 and BA: +18.0%, p<0.01). In contrast, the relative load on the medial (SV: +27.4%, p<0.05 and BA: +16.1%, p=0.06) and lateral midfoot (SV: +23.3%, p<0.05 and BA: +28.3%, p<0.01) was higher on clay.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that playing surface affects plantar loading in tennis: Greenset induced higher loading in hallux (SV: +15.3%, p<0.05 and BA: +11.4%, NS) and lesser toes areas (SV: +12.6%, p<0.05 and BA: +18.0%, p<0.01) but lower relative load on the medial (SV: -27.4%, p<0.05 and BA: -16.1%, p=0.06) and lateral midfoot (SV: -23.3%, p<0.05 and BA: -28.3%, p<0.01) than clay.
Key Words: Foot, Overuse injuries, Plantar loading, Playing surface, Pressure distribution
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