• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.99-118
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• 2004

The aim of this study is to evaluate tennis shoes's plantar pressure distribution in tennis prayers and to determine the influence of the shoe on various tennis movements. When investigating the biomechanics of movement in tennis, one of the first things to do is to understand the movement patterns of the sport, specifically how these patterns relate to different tennis shoes. Once these patterns are understood, footwear company can design tennis shoes that match the individual needs of tennis players. Plantar pressure measurement is widely employed to study foot function, the mechanical pathogenesis for foot disease and as a diagnostic and outcome measurement tool for many performance. Measurements were taken of plantar pressure distribution across the foot and using F-Scan(Tekscan Inc.) systems respectively. The F-Scan system for dynamic in-shoe foot pressure measurements has enabled us to assess quantitatively the efficacy of different types of footwear in reducing foot pressures. The Tekscan F-Scan system consists of a flexible, 0.18mm thick sole-shape having 1260 pressure sensors, the sensor insole was trimmed to fit the subjects' right, left shoes. For this study 4 university male, high level tennis players were instructed to hit alternated forehand stroke, backhand stroke, forehand volley, backhand volley, smash, service movement in 4 different tennis shoes. 1. When impact in tennis movement, peak pressure distribution of landing foot displayed D>C>B>A, A displayed the best low pressure distribution. A style's tennis shoes will suggest prayer with high impact. If prayer with high impact feeling during pray in tennis wear A style, it will decrease injury, will have performance improvement. 2. When impact in tennis movement, plantar pattern of pressure distribution in landing foot displayed B>A>C>D in stability performance. During tennis, prayer want to stability movement suggest B style tennis shoes when tennis movement impact keep stability of human body. B style tennis shoes give performance improvement 3. When impact in tennis movement, plantar pattern of center of force(C.O.F.)trajectory in landing foot analyzed this : 1) When stroke movement and volley movement in tennis, prayer better to rearfoot movement. 2) when service movement, prayer midfoot strike movement. 3) when smash movement, prayer have forefoot strike movement.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.89-97
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to analyze the foot-pressure distribution of Tennis Shoes for assessing their functionality. 10 university male students (shoe size: 265mm) who had no history of injury in the lower extremity and a normal gait pattern participated in this study. Four types of tennis shoes, most popular in Korea (A, B, C & D company), were selected and tested. Using the PEDAR-X system and PEDAR-X insoles, 4 different motion stages were analyzed for the foot-pressure distribution: (a) straight running; (b) c-cut($45^{\circ}$ left turn running; (c) forehand stroke; and (d) backhand stroke. Results revealed that in all stages, there were no statistically significant differences among the types of shoes; however, descriptive statistics indicated that functionality of shoe types was somewhat different depending on the type of stages. The order in functionality found was C>A>B>D.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to investigate kinematic parameters of racket head and upper extremities during squash back hand stroke and to provide quantitative data to the players. Five Korean elite male players were used as subjects in this study. To find out the swing motion of the players, the land-markers were attached to the segments of upper limb and 3-D motion analysis was performed. Orientation angles were also computed for angular movement of each segment. The results were as follows. 1) the average time of the back hand swing (downswing + follow-through) was 0.39s (0.24 s + 0.15 s). 2) for each event, the average racket velocity at impact was 11.17m/s and the velocity at the end of swing was 8.03m/s, which was the fastest swing speed after impact. Also, for each phase, 5.10m/s was found in down swing but 7.68m/s was found in follow-through. Racket swing speed was fastest after the impact but the swing speed was reduced in the follow-through phase. 3) in records of average of joints angle, shoulder angle was defined as the relative angle to the body. 1.04rad was found at end of back swing, 1.75rad at impact and it changes to 2.35 rad at the end of swing. Elbow angle was defined as the relative angle of forearm to upper arm. 1.73rad was found at top of backswing, 2.79rad at impact, and the angle was changed to 2.55rad at end of swing. Wrist angle was defined as the relative angle of hand to forearm. 2.48rad was found at top of backswing, 2.86rad at impact, and the angle changes to 1.96rad at end of swing. As a result, if the ball is to fly in the fastest speed, the body has to move in the order of trunk, shoulder, elbow and wrist (from proximal segment to distal segment). Thus, the flexibility of the wrist can be very important factor to increase ball speed as the last action of strong impact. In conclusion, the movement in order of the shoulder, elbow and the wrist decided the racket head speed and the standard deviations were increased as the motion was transferred from proximal to the distal segment due to the personal difference of swing arc. In particular, the use of wrist (snap) may change the output dramatically. Therefore, it was concluded that the flexible wrist movement in squash was very important factor to determine the direction and spin of the ball.