The purpose of the study was to compare the kinematics of the barbell back squat between two footwear conditions and to evaluate the results with respect to recommendations put forth in the National Strength and Conditioning Association position statement for proper squat technique. Twenty-five subjects with 5 - 7 years of resistance training experience participated. Selected kinematics were measured during a 60% of 1RM barbell back squat in both barefoot and athletic shoe conditions. Paired-samples T tests were performed to compare the two footwear conditions. Significant differences were found in trunk (50.72±8.27 vs. 46.97±9.87), thigh (20.94±10.19 vs. 24.42±11.11), and shank segment angles (59.47±5.54 vs. 62.75±6.17), and knee joint angles (81.33±13.70 vs. 88.32±15.45) at the peak descent position. Based on the kinematic analysis of the barefoot squat, two kinematic advantages are countered by two disadvantages. Coaches and instructors should acknowledge these results with respect to a performer's capability, and be aware the advantages and disadvantages of barefoot squat from a kinematic perspective.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether plyometric training in Strength shoes (Strength Footwear, Inc.) increased vertical jump performance, decreased elapsed time in the 40 yard dash and increased calf circumference. Thirty-one male and female college-aged students served as subjects. Twenty-two subjects, enrolled in a college physical fitness class, were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: Strength shoe (S) group or traditional shoe (T). A third condition, a control (C) group consisted of 9 volunteers enrolled in a college badminton class. Subjects in both experimental conditions trained for ten weeks, three times per week, 45 minutes per day. Subjects performed plyometric drills designed to increase vertical jump and increase running speed. Subjects were pre-tested and post-tested for vertical jump performance, speed in the 40 yard dash, and right and left calf circumference. There was no significant (p>. 05) change in either experimental group from pretest to post test on vertical jump performance, speed in the 40 yard dash and right and left calf circumference. It was concluded that, regardless of the footwear being worn, plyometric training did not increase vertical jump performance, calf circumference or decrease the elapsed time in the 40 yard dash of the participants. / Master of Science

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Quality, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Football boot manufacturers can have an advantage over their competitors if they gain knowledge about the purchase decision-making process of their consumers. It is significant that marketers understand the important criteria of a consumer’s purchase decision. This study aimed to investigate consumer behaviour in the football boot industry, to support football boot manufacturers with information of the purchasing behaviour of their consumers in order to establish product development and novel marketing strategies. The objective of the study was to identify expectations of survey respondents in terms of the factors which influence their purchasing behaviour of football boots in the federal state of Bavaria in Germany. In order to accomplish the objectives of the study, a quantitative study was conducted by means of self-administered questionnaires. A sample of 400 questionnaires was administered. The respondents were purposively selected. Conclusions and recommendations were thereafter drawn from the literature and the findings of the study. The results showed that quality and brand names were the major influential factors in the purchase decision. Adidas was the most popular brand, followed by Nike and Puma. Citing satisfaction with their purchases, consumers were brand loyal and repeated purchases occurred. The research recommended that football boot manufacturers need to invest constantly in its development and quality management program in order to meet consumers’ expectations and international standards.

No description available.

After investigating the injury mechanism, this dissertation aims to design an intelligent sprain-free sports shoe for the prevention of sport-related ankle sprain injury. It consists of a three-step mechanism: (1) Sensing, (2) Identification, and (3) Correction. The progress of this dissertation covers two options of sensing and identification. The first option is to monitor the ankle spraining motion with the ankle inversion angle. A method to employ two tiny inertial and magnetic sensors at the shank and foot segment is adopted as the sensing system. A laboratory study is conducted to obtain ankle inversion magnitude and velocity during various sport motions. Together with the article kinematics reported in the accidental sprain case report, a standard for identifying ankle sprain is established. The second option is to monitor the ankle spraining motion with the ankle supination torque. A feasible method to estimate the complete ground reaction forces with the information from pressure insoles is presented. Then, a tiny in-shoe three-pressure-sensor system is devised to monitor the ankle supination torque during sport motions. With the information of failure torque at the ankle joint reported by previous cadaveric study, an identification system of the ankle supination torque is devised. / Ankle sprain injury is the most common single type of sport-related musculoskeletal trauma which causes rupture and tear to the anterior talofibular ligament and ankle instability. In this dissertation, a new paradigm, "Orthopaedic Sport Biomechanics", is proposed to present the role of biomechanics in the practice of orthopaedics sports medicine, including the analysis of injury mechanism, and the design of prophylactic equipment for injury prevention. To directly investigate the injury, a case report of an accidental injury event in laboratory is presented. It was found that an internally rotated ankle orientation at foot strike may predispose the ankle joint to a supination sprain injury, by triggering lateral drift of the rearfoot and the subsequent vigorous inversion. At injury, the ankle joint reached an inversion of 48 degrees and an internal rotation of 10 degrees. / Future studies on the sensing and identification process, the correction, and the final evaluation are suggested. We hope that we could really invent the sprain-free shoe to help reducing the incidence of ankle sprain injury in sports in future. / Fong, Tik Pui Daniel. / Adviser: Kai-Ming Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3635. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-127). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

by Cheng Ka-Chung, Ho Fung-Ching. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-51). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.vii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5 / Chapter III. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.10 / Decision Making Objectives --- p.10 / Research Objectives --- p.11 / Research Design --- p.11 / Hypothesis Testing --- p.14 / Statistical Analysis Method --- p.17 / Sampling and Data Collection --- p.18 / Chapter IV. --- RESULTS --- p.19 / Sample --- p.19 / General Brand and Country Evaluation --- p.19 / Plot of Main Effect - Brand Name --- p.19 / Plot of Main Effect - Country-of-Origin --- p.22 / Plot of Treatments --- p.23 / Hypothesis Testing using ANOVA --- p.25 / Basic Findings --- p.25 / Other Findings --- p.27 / Pairwise t-test for Country-of-Origin Effect --- p.28 / Preferential Analysis --- p.29 / Chapter V. --- LIMITATION --- p.36 / Sampling Bias --- p.36 / Reliability --- p.36 / Validity --- p.37 / Chapter VI. --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.38 / APPENDICES --- p.42 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.49

The ankle sprain is a common injury in basketball. A mechanism for this injury occurs when landing improperly from a jump. The concept of wedge and flare designs in shoes is (1) to offer benefit in reducing the potential for an ankle sprain while (2) not hindering performance or usability concerning basketball movements that are needed for successful play. The purpose was to take conceptual designs of the wedge and flare through an iterative design process. Therefore, the objectives were to fabricate shoe prototypes with these conceptual designs, to test the performance of these prototypes, and to develop the next iteration of design based upon the results of testing. The results of this design process are discussed.