Comparative Analysis of Plantar Pressure between Skilled and Unskilled Players during Hockey Penalty Stroke

Abstract

This study aims to provide the basic biomechanical data on the average, maximum and distribution of plantar pressure during hockey penalty stroke by comparing five skilled and five unskilled players. Following are the conclusions. First in the case of average and maximum planter pressure during penalty stroke, the skilled players showed higher pressures at the moment of left foot landing in rear plantar of left foot and fore, rear plantar of right foot compared to the unskilled players. Also at the moment of impact, the skilled players showed higher pressures in fore, rear plantar of left foot and fore plantar of right foot compared to the unskilled. The analysis drew the conclusion that the skilled players move their center of body from fore, rear plantar of right foot to fore, rear plantar of left foot at the moment of left foot landing and impact in order to perform a quick and strong shooting. Second in the case of plantar distribution, as the skilled players put over 70% of their weights on left foot, they showed overall higher plantar pressure distributed on the outer fore, mid and rear parts of left foot plantar, in contrast with the unskilled players who showed about 50/50 distribution of weights on their right and left foot. The analysis concluded that such distribution was shown because the skilled players transferred their weights from the right to left foot effectively while the unskilled players could not do so.

The Effect of Blade Alignment on Kinematics and Plantar Pressure during the Execution of Goaltender-Specific Movement Patterns: A Case Study

“…Greater force on soccer shoe studs increased traction, resulting in faster locomotion [11]. Within sport-specific research, increased peak plantar pressure in certain footwear conditions has improved performance of specific movements in an array of sports, including soccer [11], fencing [12], field hockey [13], and running [14].…”