Term of Award

Spring 2021

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Samuel Wilson

Committee Member 1

Barry Munkasy

Committee Member 2

Jessica Mutchler

Abstract

PURPOSE: During a round of golf, two important aspects of performance is the ability to maintain dynamic balance and adequate gait performance. Previous research suggests that extrinsic factors, such as footwear and intrinsic factors, such as muscular exertion level, affect gait performance. However, no studies were found that examined the effects of modern golf footwear on gait mechanics. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of golf-specific footwear and prolonged durations of standing and walking on gait mechanics. METHODS: Participant gait was analyzed prior to walking sessions and then every 60 minutes until the 240th minute in three types of golf-specific footwear; dress shoes, tennis shoes, and minimalist shoes, as well as a barefoot control condition. Peak vertical ground reaction forces and mean muscle activity during gait testing of the vastus medialis, semitendinosus, tibialis anterior, and medial gastrocnemius were examined using a 4 x 5 repeated measures analysis of variance to identify differences within time and footwear types. RESULTS: Increases in mean muscle activity approached significance after the second hour for two muscles of interest; semitendinosus (F(4,36) = 2.495, p = 0.060, 2 = 0.217) and the tibialis anterior (F(4,36) = 2.187, p = 0.090, 2 = 0.196). No significant increases in peak vertical ground reaction forces were observed after four hours. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that extended durations of standing and walking may alter muscle activation patterns during gait but that footwear may have no effect on gait mechanics.

OCLC Number

1251927464

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

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