The influence of biological maturity on motor performance among habitually barefoot versus habitually shod adolescents     

Cornelius John  Karsten Hollander  Johanna Elsabe de Villiers  Daniel Hamacher  Ranel Venter  Astrid Zech 《European Journal of Sport Science》2019,19(5):621-627

Biological maturation is associated with physiological changes which in turn affect motor performance. No study has assessed the association between growing up habitually shod versus habitually barefoot and motor performance in the context of maturation, so this approach is unique. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of biological maturity on motor performance dependent on the participants’ footwear habits. Sixty-five German habitually shod (mean age 13.28?±?0.83 years) and fifty-five South African habitually barefoot (mean age 13.38?±?0.87 years) participants were included. Dynamic postural control was determined via backward balancing, explosive strength by standing long jump and sprinting performance based on a 20-m sprinting test. All tests were performed barefoot and shod. Biological maturation was calculated by using the maturity offset value. Linear mixed models were used to analyse interactions between the maturity offset value, footwear habits and motor performance. Throughout maturation, there was a significant difference between habitually barefoot and habitually shod balance performance (P?=?0.001). Maturation led to balance improvements in habitually barefoot adolescents, but not in habitually shod adolescents. No such differences could be observed for standing long jump and 20-m sprint performance. Maturity offset was a significant predictor for jumping and sprinting performances (P?相似文献