Spatial and Temporal Gait Variable Differences between Basketball, Swimming and Soccer Players

Abstract

The gait variables of 10 swimmers, 10 basketball players, and 16 soccer players were compared. They were all male and right-handed. There was no statistical difference between the three groups in age, weight and height. Spatial and temporal gait variables were measured with the Bessou gait analyzer. In the swimmers group, the gait variables of the right side were not statistically different from those of the left side. The right propulsion double support duration, right cycle duration, and right late swing phase duration were respectively longer than those on the left side for the basketball players. The right propulsion double support duration, right step length, and right late swing phase duration were higher than those on the left side for the soccer players. Moreover, a discriminant analysis performed with the gait variables permitted significant differentiation between the three groups. In conclusion, both basketball and soccer players presented asymmetrical gait variables, that have never been previously reported in normal subjects, or in swimmers. These results suggest that the anticipatory postural adjustments programmed to be used just before a jump or a shoot influence the motor program of the spontaneous locomotion. These gait asymmetries could also be due to asymmetric muscle development.

Evaluation of foot support in rugby players: a baropodometric analysis

“…The risks of bone, joint and muscle overload-related trauma and pathologies have been reported to be high in rugby players [3,[15][16][17][18]. Our findings of foot support anomalies in rugby players with respect to controls gives further support to this hypothesis.…”

“…Leroy et al [3] have shown evidence of variations of foot support in subjects who practice sports intensely. Such differences are related to the performance model, in that there are specific loads and postural adaptations for each sport discipline.…”

“…Such differences are related to the performance model, in that there are specific loads and postural adaptations for each sport discipline. The intense practice and the specificity of sports influence normal locomotion, producing differences even among sports or among sportive and sedentary subjects [3].…”

Effects of Fatigue on Bilateral Ground Reaction Force Asymmetries during the Squat Exercise

“…The only bilateral asymmetries observed were for the professional level athletes on isokinetic and functional evaluations when previous knee injury was taken into account, such that the injured limb did not perform as well as the uninjured limb. These are interesting findings, as other researchers state that since basketball is somewhat a unilateral sport, most players have a preferential lay-up that is dependent on handedness (Leroy et al, 2000).…”

“…Gait variables have been studied in basketball and soccer players, as well as swimmers to determine if playing a specific sport has an influence on gait pattern, thus leading to an asymmetric gait (Leroy, Polin, Tourny-Chollet, & Weber, 2000).…”