Citation

Girard O, Eicher F, Fourchet F, Micallef JP, Millet GP. Br. J. Sports Med. 2007; 47(11): 733-738.

Affiliation

EA 2991, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Montpellier, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bjsm.2007.036707

PMID

17566048

PMCID

PMC2465293

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.

Language: en