Plantar loading in the youth soccer player during common soccer movements and risk for foot injury.

Introduction: Soccer players are at high risk of stress injuries in the foot. While most research addresses this issue in professional athletes, there is little information concerning young athletes. As soccer is practiced around the world since early infancy, we set out to determine whether young soccer athletes are susceptible to increased foot loading that increase risk factors for foot injuries in a similar manner as reported by the literature to the adult athlete.

Within and between-days repeatability and variability of plantar pressure measurement during walking in children, adults and older adults.

Background: Previous studies discussed the repeatability and variability in plantar pressure measurement, but a few considered different age groups. Here we determine within and between-days repeatability and variability of plantar pressure measurement during gait in participants from different age groups.

Method: Plantar pressure was recorded in children, young adults and older adults walking at preferred speed in four non-consecutive days within one week.

Plantar pressure asymmetry and risk of stress injuries in the foot of young soccer players.

Background: Asymmetries in the magnitude of plantar pressure are considered a risk factor for stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in soccer athletes.

Objective: To investigate the presence of plantar pressure asymmetries among young soccer athletes.

Design: Observational.