Different soccer stud configurations effect on running and cutting movements

The purpose of this study was to test for differences in performance and injury risks between three different outsole configuration soccer shoes on natural turf. A total of 14 experienced soccer players participated in the tests. Participants were asked to complete tasks of straight-ahead running and 45° left sidestep cutting respectively at the speed of 5.0±0.2 m/s on natural turf. They selected soccer shoes with firm ground design (FG), artificial ground design (AG) and turf cleats (TF) randomly. During 45° cut, FG showed significantly smaller peak knee flexion and greater abduction angles than TF. FG showed significant greater peak horizontal ground reaction force (GRF) and average required traction ratio compared with AG and TF. FG may offer a performance benefit on artificial turf compared to AG and TF on natural turf. However, increased knee valgus angle and decreased knee flexion angle of FG may increase knee loading and risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Higher vertical average loadi...