Fan Yang

The objective of the study was to compare conventional biomechanical outcomes, movement regularity, and local dynamic stability among habitual rearfoot strikers during acute non-rearfoot-strike adoption (HRFS-AN) and after 12 weeks of gait retraining (HRFS-GR), and habitual non-rearfoot strikers (HNRFS). Thirty-three male recreational runners enrolled. Analyses included 13 habitual rearfoot strikers assessed during acute NRFS adoption and after 12 weeks of gait retraining, together with 14 HNRFS. Participants ran on a treadmill at 9 km·h⁻1 while ground reaction forces and lower-limb kinematics were recorded. Coefficient of variation (CV), sample entropy (SampEn), and largest Lyapunov exponent (LyE) were used to characterize discrete kinematic variability, temporal regularity, and local dynamic stability, respectively. Runners in all three states adopted an NRFS pattern. HRFS-AN showed a more anterior foot strike than HRFS-GR and HNRFS. Peak vertical ground reaction force and most spatiotemporal and discrete kinematic outcomes did not differ among states; selected joint angle and CV outcomes differed, while VILR and VALR were lower in HRFS-AN than in HRFS-GR. Compared with HRFS-AN, HRFS-GR and HNRFS exhibited lower SampEn for sagittal-plane knee and ankle motion and vertical COM motion, and lower LyE for sagittal-plane knee and vertical COM motion. Compared with HNRFS, HRFS-GR exhibited higher SampEn for sagittal-plane knee and transverse-plane hip motion and higher LyE for sagittal-plane knee and coronal-plane hip motion. Most conventional biomechanical outcomes were similar among states; however, HRFS-AN exhibited a more anterior foot strike than HRFS-GR and HNRFS, as well as lower VILR and VALR than HRFS-GR. Compared with acute adoption, the retrained state showed greater regularity and local dynamic stability in selected knee, ankle, and COM trajectories, although selected differences from HNRFS remained. These findings suggest that a gradual 12-week gait-retraining programme may be an appropriate approach for transitioning habitual rearfoot strikers to NRFS.

This cross-sectional, parent-proxy online survey quantified caregiver-perceived functional priorities for youth basketball shoes across four developmental-stage groups (3–6, 7–9, 10–12, and 13–15[Formula: see text]years). Caregivers rated the importance of shoe functions on a 1–10[Formula: see text]scale and selected their top three considerations. Responses were summarized at three levels: composite outcomes (Protection, Performance, and balance index [BI [Formula: see text] Performance − Protection]), functional domain scores, and item-level Top-3 selection rates. A total of 1128[Formula: see text]questionnaire submissions were received through WeChat-based dissemination, and 986[Formula: see text]responses were retained for analysis after screening. Within each age group, boys and girls did not differ in composite outcomes or domain scores (all [Formula: see text]). In contrast, age-group effects were evident within each sex for Protection, Performance, and BI and across all five domain-level outcomes (all [Formula: see text]). BI moved toward zero with increasing age, indicating progressively closer weighting between performance-support and protection-oriented priorities in older groups. At the domain level, impact cushioning remained highly rated across stages; stability/control and propulsion/forefoot function increased with age; comfort/adherence rose in the oldest group; and traction/braking showed stage-specific reordering. Item-level forced prioritization converged on a stable core — cushioning, traction, and breathability — with age- and sex-stratified shifts in ordering and limited subgroup-specific substitution (durability entering the Top-3[Formula: see text]in 13–15-year girls). These findings delineate caregiver-perceived, stage-stratified functional priority profiles for youth basketball footwear based on parent-proxy importance ratings and forced-choice prioritization.

Running is a prevalent exercise for overweight individuals seeking weight loss, yet it is associated with a substantial risk of sports injuries. Despite advancements in running shoe design, the incidence of running-related injuries remains high, highlighting the need to optimize key parameters such as shoe drop. This study aimed to investigate the effects of thick-soled running shoes with different drops on the lower limb biomechanical characteristics of overweight women during jogging, thereby providing a scientific basis for shoe selection and product design. Method: Sixteen overweight female participants (BMI: 24.0–28.0[ ]kg/m ² ) with no history of lower limb injuries, normal foot type, and heel-striking pattern were recruited. Four pairs of thick-soled running shoes with drops of 5, 7, 9, and 11[ ]mm (other features identical) were used for testing. Kinematic data were collected using the Vicon 3D motion capture system (200[ ]Hz), and kinetic data were synchronously acquired via the Bertec force plate (1000[ ]Hz) at a constant running speed of 3.3[ ]m/s. SPSS 23.0 software was employed for single-factor repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc LSD tests, with statistical significance set at [ ]. Results showed: (1) Kinematics, the 11[ ]mm drop shoe exhibited significantly longer braking time ([ ]), shorter push-off time ([ ]), and larger ankle dorsiflexion angle at touchdown ([ ]) compared to other drops; the 5[ ]mm drop shoe had the highest peak ankle eversion angular velocity ([ ]). (2) Kinetically, the 11[ ]mm drop shoe demonstrated a significantly lower maximum loading rate of the first vertical peak than the 5[ ]mm drop shoe ([ ]), and its maximum ankle eversion moment was significantly smaller than that of the 5, 7, and 9[ ]mm drop shoes ([ ]). (3) Subjective evaluations indicated no significant differences in shock absorption, fit, transition, stability, or comfort among the four shoes ([ ]), but the 7[ ]mm drop shoe received the highest average scores for comfort and stability. All in all, shoe drop significantly affects heel cushioning and stability during running in overweight women. Among the tested drops, the 9[ ]mm drop shoe achieves an optimal balance between cushioning performance and stability, effectively reducing the risk of sports injuries by regulating vertical loading rates and balancing joint moments. Combined with kinematic, kinetic, and subjective data, the 9[ ]mm drop thick-soled running shoe is recommended as the most suitable choice for overweight women engaging in jogging activities.

Sidestep cutting is a fundamental yet high-risk movement in badminton, often placing considerable biomechanical stress on the lower limbs. Arch support insoles are commonly used to improve foot stability and redistribute loads, but their specific biomechanical effects during badminton movements remain unclear. This study investigated how different arch support heights influence lower limb mechanics during a 45-degree sidestep cutting (45C) maneuver in badminton players, with a focus on joint kinematics, kinetics, and contact forces. Fifteen male athletes performed 45C maneuver trials under three insole conditions: no support (NS), low support (LS), and high support (HS). Lower limb biomechanics were analyzed using musculoskeletal modeling in OpenSim, assessing joint angles, joint moments, and joint contact forces at the ankle, knee, and hip. A one-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to evaluate differences across conditions. The high-support condition significantly increased ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.002) and knee external rotation (P < 0.001) compared with the no-support and low-support conditions. Hip extension moments were higher under the high-support condition (P = 0.043). Anterior–posterior ankle joint contact force increased under high support (P = 0.014), while no significant differences were observed in knee or hip joint contact forces across conditions. These findings describe acute mechanical responses under controlled laboratory conditions. Whether these responses relate to long-term movement strategies in different athlete populations remains to be clarified in future work.

The quadricep muscles are commonly targeted for electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), while the gastrocnemius muscles, despite their crucial role in push-off, are often overlooked. The purpose was to investigate whether incorporating EMS into gastrocnemius training could optimize athletic performance. Two groups of athletes received regular gastrocnemius training (Training-only) or combined EMS into training (Training + EMS) over four weeks. The sprint time, jump height, take-off ground reaction forces, ankle and knee joint power, and electromyography were assessed before and after the training sessions. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to determine any significant effect. Both training-only and training + EMS groups showed increased jump height and faster sprint time after training ([ ]). The participants in the two groups also generated higher take-off force and larger ankle and knee powers after training ([ ]). EMS adds no significant improvement in performance outcomes ([ ]). This study implicates that both training-only and training + EMS can enhance sports performance and take-off force and lower-limb joint powers of the athletes, but the use of EMS can only induce minimal added improvements on gastrocnemius training.

Objective: To identify trends in physical fitness test scores of college freshmen and their physical fitness from 2018 to 2021, and to analyze the relationship between college students’ Body Mass Index (BMI) and Physical Fitness Index (PFI).Methods: This study obtained physical fitness test data from 7,541 freshmen at a university in Beijing, China, from 2018 to 2021. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the physical fitness indicators among different BMI levels by gender. A nonlinear quadratic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between BMI and each indicator within gender groups.Results: The BMI of freshmen in China was generally increased over the study period, and BMI levels influenced students’ physical fitness indexes to varying degrees. BMI was significantly correlated with the physical fitness indexes and PFI. The increase in BMI had a greater influence on the PFI of males than females.Conclusion: Students with a normal BMI show better physical fitness. A BMI below or above the normal range may result in poor physical fitness. The relationship between BMI and PFI has an inverted u-shaped curve. Physical education programs should be tailored to students with different fitness levels and fundamentals, including but not limited to the development of strength, speed, and other qualities.

The objective was to investigate the effects of running shoes with midsole hollow structure span and height on the biomechanics of the lower limbs during running. We collected 21 adults with running habits who wore two pairs of running shoes with different midsole hollow structures and ran at a speed of 3.3[ ]m/s on a force-measuring treadmill. The lower limb kinematics, ground reaction force (GRF) and lower limb muscle activation characteristics were simultaneously captured by a motion capture system, a 3D force treadmill, and a surface electromyography (sEMG) system. Paired t-tests were performed on data for the two shoe conditions that fit the normal distribution assumptions; otherwise, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used. The statistical parameter mapping (SPM) technology was used for the analysis of 1D parameters of kinematic, dynamic, and sEMG activation characteristics. The result showed that the time to the peak impact force at touchdown of Hollow shoe2 was significantly increased ([ ]), the maximum loading rate ([ ]) and average loading rate ([ ]) were significantly reduced, braking time ([ ]), push time ([ ]), contact time ([ ]) of Hollow shoe2 were significantly increased compared with Hollow shoe1. Hollow shoe2 push phase of the tibialis anterior muscle activation characteristics was significantly lower (SPM, [ ]) than Hollow shoe1. Our conclusion is that running shoes offer the solution as they have the advantage of the complex structure of the hollow midsole.

The bending stiffness of footwear impacts running efficiency and lower-limb work redistribution. However, studies integrating both aspects are scarce. This study aimed to examine the impact of footwear stiffness on lower-limb biomechanics, joint work, and overall metabolic efficiency. This study was performed on 12 male recreational runners to complete an experimental protocol while wearing two different running shoes with varying degrees of longitudinal bending stiffness. Paired-sample t tests were applied in this research. The stiffer footwear decreased the range of motion (ROM), angular velocity, negative and positive work of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint, and ROM of the ankle joint. The running economy significantly improved with the stiffer footwear. However, no significant difference was observed in the joint work of other lower limbs. Shoes with increased bending stiffness significantly reduced the MTP joint ROM and angular velocity, thereby reducing negative power and work at the MTP joint and improving running economy for runners. This study provided relevant information for shoe designers, developers, and scientists conducting research on footwear midsole structures and designs.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) holds profound implications for the holistic development of college students. However, students with chronic diseases or physical disabilities experience significantly limited PA during adaptive sports. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity and Functional Movement Screening (FMS) among university students who participate in the adaptive physical course. METHODS: 36 university students (from the adaptive physical course) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-L). Body measurements and FMS were assessed. Correlation analysis and t-tests were used to determine relationships and differences between various indicators. A two-way analysis of variance was used to investigate potential variations in FMS scores based on gender and weight status. RESULTS: The results show that gender, PA, and BMI significantly influence FMS scores in students participating in adaptive physical courses. FMS score is significantly negatively correlated with BMI and significantly positively correlated with PA. The FMS score for males, as well as the scores for Trunk Stability Push-Up and Rotary Stability, are significantly higher than those for females. CONCLUSION: University students in adaptive physical courses can benefit from increased PA and FMS scores. Improving functional movement and enhancing physical activity are crucial for promoting overall health in this population.