2019, Volume 15

Post-exercise changes in the selected features of feet structure in capoeira adepts with advanced training experience

Ewa Puszczałowska-Lizis¹, Jarosław Omorczyk², Tadeusz Ambroży<sup>3

1</sup>Kolegium Nauk Medycznych, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski, Rzeszów, Poland
²Wydział Wychowania Fizycznego i Sportu, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Krakowie, Kraków, Poland
³Wydział Wychowania Fizycznego i Sportu, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego, Kraków, Poland


Author for correspondence: Ewa Puszczałowska-Lizis; Kolegium Nauk Medycznych, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski, Rzeszów, Poland; email: ewalizis@poczta.onet.pl

Full text

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Practicing capoeira requires improving movement, defence and attack techniques (kicks, transitions, dodge, takedowns) as well as develops agility, coordination, praxis and co-contraction. Due to the specificity of the training process, it can be assumed that physical exercises used in the training of athletes are a factor strongly modelling their feet, which are the distal part of the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this research was the post-exercise changes in the values defining selected features of foot structure in capoeira adepts advanced in training experience.
Material and Methods: We examined 30 capoeira adepts with advanced training experience, aged 20-25 years, attending "UNICAR" Capoeira Academy in Rzeszów. The study relied on the CQ-ST podoscope for pertinent measurements. The following foot features and indices were measured: foot length and width, Clarke's angle, heel angle (γ), hallux valgus angle (α), and the V toe varus deformity angle (β). The data were analyzed based on the Student t-test and Wilcoxon test.
Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the value of foot width (p = 0.000) and Clarke's angle of the right (p = 0.001) and left (p = 0.000) foot under the influence of 1.5 hours of training, as well as an increase in the values of the heel angle (γ) of the left foot (p = 0.000), hallux valgus (α) of the left foot (p = 0.028) and varus angle of the Vth toe (β) of the left foot (p = 0.000).
Conclusions: Mechanical stimuli used during capoeira training improve the longitudinal arch of the foot. After 1.5 hour training, the feet widen the transverse arch of the left foot decreases, as well as the increase in hallux valgus and the Vth toe deformity of the left foot in adepts with advanced training experience. This indicates the need for skilful dosing of exercises and combat elements excessively straining the forefoot in order to minimize permanent, adverse changes within the anterior support zone.

Key words: combat sports, martial arts, foot morphology, performance, technique, training load