Effects of Barefoot and Shod Conditions on the Kinematics and Kinetics of the Lower Extremities in Alternating Jump Rope Skipping-A One-Dimensional Statistical Parameter Mapping Study

Purpose: To explore the difference in the biomechanics of the lower extremity during alternating jump rope skipping (AJRS) under barefoot and shod conditions.

Methods: Fourteen experienced AJRS participants were randomly assigned to wear jump rope shoes or be barefoot (BF) during the AJRS at a self-selected speed. The Qualisys motion capture system and Kistler force platform were used to synchronously collect the ground reaction forces and trajectory data of the hip, knee, ankle, and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. One-dimensional statistical parameter mapping was used to analyze the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremity under both conditions using paired t-tests.

Results: Wearing shoes resulted in a significant decrease in the ROM ( < 0.001) and peak angular velocity ( < 0.001) of the MTP joint during the landing phase. In addition, the MTP joint power ( < 0.001) was significantly larger under shod condition at 92-100% of the landing phase. Moreover, wearing shoes reduced the peak loading rate ( = 0.002).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that wearing shoes during AJRS could provide better propulsion during push-off by increasing the MTP plantarflexion joint power. In addition, our results emphasize the significance of the ankle and MTP joint by controlling the ankle and MTP joint angle.