Zhang Jialu, Chu Zhaowei, Bai Taoping, Zhang Ming, Ren Weiyan, Li Zhongyou, Jiang Wentao
Sichuan Province Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory, Chengdu, China.
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2025 Aug 14;13:1640138. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1640138. eCollection 2025.
While an expanded toe box (TB) design offers notable benefits for foot health in basketball players, its impact on movement performance remains insufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to explore this relationship and inform the development of advanced shoe designs.
We conducted a controlled laboratory study with a within-subject crossover design. Thirty basketball players (25 males, five females; aged 18-20 years) performed standardized 5-m sprints, 180° lateral shuffling, and 45° sidestep cutting in six shoe versions. These versions systematically altered the toe allowance dividing line (TADL) (0, 1.5, 3 mm) and the sole center line (SCL) rotation (0°, 2°). Movement time, ground reaction forces, propulsion impulse, and joint kinematics were measured using optical timing systems, force platforms, and motion capture.
A 3-mm TADL extension significantly improved performance, reducing sprint, lateral shuffling, and sidestep cutting times by 6.53% (P < 0.01), 3.49% (P < 0.01), and 7.69% (P < 0.01), respectively, and increased propulsion impulse by 27.27% (P < 0.01). A 1.5-mm TADL extension improved sprint time by 4.02% (P < 0.05), though the effects on other movements were limited. A 2° SCL rotation showed no significant performance improvements (P > 0.05).
Our findings suggest that shoes with enlarged TB improve both forward and lateral movements. Inward TADL extension optimizes performance by enhancing foot mobility and force transmission, while SCL rotation offers minimal benefits. These findings challenge the conventional tight-fitting shoe designs and provide insights for designing footwear that enhances agility and reduces injury risks.
虽然加宽鞋头盒（TB）设计对篮球运动员的足部健康有显著益处，但其对运动表现的影响仍未得到充分阐明。本研究旨在探讨这种关系，并为先进鞋类设计的发展提供信息。
我们采用受试者内交叉设计进行了一项对照实验室研究。30名篮球运动员（25名男性，5名女性；年龄18 - 20岁）穿着六种鞋款进行标准化的5米冲刺、180°侧向移动和45°侧步切入动作。这些鞋款系统地改变了鞋头余量分界线（TADL）（0、1.5、3毫米）和鞋底中心线（SCL）旋转角度（0°、2°）。使用光学计时系统、测力平台和动作捕捉技术测量运动时间、地面反作用力、推进冲量和关节运动学数据。
TADL延长3毫米可显著提高运动表现，使冲刺、侧向移动和侧步切入时间分别减少6.53%（P < 0.01）、3.49%（P < 0.01）和7.69%（P < 0.01），并使推进冲量增加27.27%（P < 0.01）。TADL延长1.5毫米可使冲刺时间减少4.02%（P < 0.05），但对其他运动的影响有限。SCL旋转2°未显示出显著的运动表现改善（P > 0.05）。
我们的研究结果表明，鞋头盒加大的鞋子可改善向前和侧向运动。向内延长TADL通过增强足部灵活性和力的传递来优化运动表现，而SCL旋转带来的益处极小。这些发现挑战了传统的紧身鞋设计，并为设计提高敏捷性和降低受伤风险的鞋类提供了见解。
