Effects of footwear on lead limb knee and ankle joint kinematics in a fast bowler with a history of posterior ankle joint impingement - a case report

Abstract

This case study reports the kinematic effect of 2 different cricket shoes on a fast bowler who reports a history of posterior ankle joint impingement. The participant bowled 6 trials in 2 pairs of cricket shoes. The 3-dimensional kinematics of the joints of the front leg was quantified during stance phase of the delivery stride. Wearing the high-cut shoe resulted in the ankle being 7.7-degree angle more plantarflexed at initial contact compared with the low-cut shoe. Again, when wearing the high-cut shoe compared with the low-cut shoe, the ankle joint was 15.5-degree angle more adducted and the knee was 4.1-degree angle less externally rotated at initial contact. This case study identifies the bowler's preferred shoe (high-cut shoe) as a potential contributing factor to the symptoms he was experiencing.