The effect of sex-specific footwear on cutting patterns in adolescent female soccer players

Sex differences have been identified in foot morphology and soccer-specific movement patterns. However, female-specific athletic footwear has only emerged recently, and research has yet to fully understand its impact on cutting patterns. This study examined the impact of female-specific soccer shoes and unisex soccer shoes on joint kinematics during cutting in adolescent soccer players. Thirty-two females completed unanticipated sidesteps at 45 ± 10 degrees, in both shoe conditions, captured using a markerless motion captures system. Principal component (PC) analysis and hierarchical linear model examined joint angle features against shoe conditions. PCs (PC1, PC2, PC3) represented either differences in joint angle amplitude or a change in angles between different cutting phases. Ankle findings related to greater dorsiflexion and inversion angles throughout cutting (PC1) and during midstance (PC2, PC3) in the female shoe than the unisex shoe. Knee findings related to lower flexion angles during the pre-contact/early cutting phase in the female shoe (PC2). Overall, the female shoe trended towards more optimal inversion, but riskier dorsiflexion and knee flexion patterns for knee injuries. However, direct indications to injury and performance require further exploration. Nonetheless, the presence of kinematic influences in sex-specific soccer footwear designs provides valuable insights for future research directions and footwear development.