Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (35): 7620-7628.doi: 10.12307/2025.962

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Influence and implications of basketball shoes' functional parameters on human biomechanics

Yang Yicheng1, 2, 3, Zheng Zhizhen1, 2, 3, Liang Shuangxue1, 2, 3, Wu Chengliang1, 2, 3, Du Yunyun1, 2, 3   

  1. 1Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; 2Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; 3Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sports of China, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2024-11-02 Accepted:2024-12-18 Online:2025-12-18 Published:2025-05-07
  • Contact: Du Yunyun, PhD, Associate professor, Master’s supervisor, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sports of China, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Yang Yicheng, Master, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Engineering Research Center of Sports Health Intelligent Equipment of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sports of China, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Hubei Provincial Department of Education Scientific Research Program, No. B2023211 (to DYY); “14th Five-Year Plan” for Hubei Higher Education Schools Advantageous Characteristic Disciplines (Groups), No. [2021]5 (to DYY [project participant])

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Basketball shoes are one of the most important pieces of athletic equipment in basketball, helping to improve players’ performance and reduce the risk of injury. With the development of basketball, the demand for basketball shoe performance is getting higher and higher.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and summarize the effects of different functional parameters of basketball shoes on the wearer’s biomechanical performance, and to investigate the effects of each functional parameter of basketball shoes on athletic performance and injury risk.
METHODS: Relevant literature addressing the effect of basketball shoes’ functional parameters on human biomechanics from CNKI, WanFang, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and other databases was searched by computer, with the search terms of “basketball, basketball shoe, shoes, footwear, sports biomechanics, kinematics, kinetics” in Chinese and English. All the retrieved literature was evaluated and screened, and finally 61 articles were included for literature review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Existing studies on functional parameters of basketball shoes include shoe collar height and heel counter-stiffness, midsole hardness, midsole cushioning, midsole thickness, forefoot flexural stiffness, whole shoe mass, and outsole traction. The functional parameters of basketball shoes play a role in improving sports performance and reducing the risk of sports injuries: (1) Compared with low-top shoes, high shoe collars can reduce the risk of ankle sprains, but may affect sports performance, ankle proprioception, and increase the load on the knee. (2) Better midsole cushioning or softer midsoles can effectively reduce vertical impact, and the forefoot cushioning structure can effectively improve the athletic performance of lateral movement. (3) The midsole thickness of 11 mm in the forefoot and 20 mm in the rearfoot can obtain the best ankle stability and sprinting performance. (4) Improving the outsole traction and forefoot bending stiffness can significantly improve the performance of jumping, sprinting, and side-cutting. There are diminishing returns to the improvement of athletic performance by improving outsole traction. (5) Lighter basketball shoes can improve athletic performance, but this effect only occurs when the wearer is aware of the shoes’ weight.

Key words: basketball shoes, biomechanics, midsole, shoe collar, outsole, shoe mass, sports performance

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