Article

Previous research suggests that socks may have the potential for injury protection through
the absorption and/or redistribution of impact forces. However, there is limited research regarding the
shock attenuation qualities of athletic socks in sporting populations and previously observed pressure
reductions have not been quantified using a force plate.
Firstly to identify the effect of specialist athletic socks on vertical and anteroposterior ground
reaction forces (GRFs) during walking and running. Secondly,
to compare GRFs between specialist socks,
non-specialist socks and barefoot walking and running conditions.
Methods: Following ethical approval participants (n = 5) completed five walking (1.52­1.68ms?1) and
running (3.8­4.2ms?1) trials, unshod, over a force plate.
This was completed before and after a 5000m
run (3.2ms?1) in their own trainers in three conditions; barefoot, non-specialist socks and specialist
running socks.
Results: Significant differences were identified between barefoot and specialist sock conditions for preintervention
time to impact peak (F = 3.110(2), P = .05, r = .11) and maximum propulsive force (F = 8.126(2),
P = .001, r = .25) when walking. Post hoc analysis identified an increase of .0016 s in time to impact peak
when walking barefoot compared to the specialist sock condition
(T =?7.402(4), P = .002, r = .71). During
walking the specialist sock also demonstrated a significant decrease of .075 BWs in maximum propulsive
force when compared to the barefoot condition (T =?7.624(4), P = .002, r = .79).
Both significant effects
diminished following the 5000m run.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that the specialist running sock has limited effects on GRFs and therefore
may be responsible for a limited degree of shock attenuation experienced during walking.

Langue : ANGLAIS