Rotational forces in two different types of jazz shoe in a développé devant

Clarke, Frances BA(Hons), University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, United Kingdom 

Purpose

To maximise optimal performance and help prevent injury in all types of exercise, shoes should be designed for specific activities. Development of sports shoes has been research driven, including biomechanical and orthopaedic concepts (Nigg, & Segesser, 1992; Nigg, Khan, Fisher, & Stefanyshyn, 1998), and shoe comfort and injury frequency (Muendermann, Stefanyshyn, & Nigg, 2001). Published research on dance shoes has been limited to studies on ballet shoes (Miller, Paulos, Parker, & Fishell, 1990; Novella, 2000). This study tests the stability of jazz shoes. 

Methods 

Two types of jazz shoe, commonly worn by dance students, were selected for this study: flat, soft jazz shoes and split sole sneakers. The influence of rotational forces on the stability of the shoes was tested and analysed in a one subject design. The participant, a female dance undergraduate, carried out 120 trials in a randomised test, using a Pro-vec 5.0 force platform. The participant carried out 8 trials of 15 repetitions of a développé devant, which examined 3 independent variables: type of shoe, right/left side, and with/without arms. A 3 x 5 factorial ANOVA with post hoc analysis was used to analyse data. The study measured the range of force ( Fx, Fy), and moments (Mx, My, Mz). 

Results

Results showed significant differences between shoes (Fy, My), arms (Fx, Fy, My, Mz), side (Fx, Fy, Mx, My, Mz), shoes and side (Fx, Fy, Mx, My), arms and side (Fx, Mz), shoes, arms, and side (Fx, Fy, Mx, My, Mz). 

Conclusions

Tests revealed significant variations between the two types of shoe whilst carrying out a développé devant. Further research is needed to test both types of shoe in other actions.