The effects of different figure skating boots on the kinetic and kinematic properties of the landing impact and changes as the boot ages.

Sammanfattning: Aim: The intention of this study was to examine whether different brands and models of skating boots differently affect the kinetic and kinematic properties of a landing impact from a jump. The differences were tested between new figure skating boots Graf Edmonton, new Edea Concerto and old used Graf Edmonton. Method: Subjects simulated a figure skating jump landing by landing from a counter movement jump off boxes of two different heights onto artificial ice in the Biomechanics and Motor Control (BMC) laboratory. During these jumps the subjects wore figure skating boots of different age and types. Landing impacts were examined by Qualisys motion capture system, Kistler force plate and Pedar-X in-shoe force and pressure measuring system. Each subject acted as his own control for comparison of kinetic and kinematic variables between the skates. Statistical comparison was carried out in SPSS. Results: The research results indicate that the kinetic and kinematic properties of a landing impact significantly (P≤0.05) differed depending on the tested skates. Significant differences were found between new Graf Edmonton and old used Graf Edmonton, between new Graf Edmonton and new Edea Concerto as well as between old used Graf Edmonton and new Edea Concerto. Conclusions: The first research hypothesis was accepted, indicating that reduced vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) acted in new Edea Concerto compared to new and old, used Graf Edmonton boots. The second research hypothesis was rejected since the VGRF acting during the landing impact in old, used Graf Edmonton was greater compared to new Edea Concerto and there was no significant difference compared to new Graf Edmonton boots. The differences between the figure skating boots found in this research are suggested to be caused by different construction designs and materials used in the skates.