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Background: Little is known about factors that influence footwear selection by field hockey players. Methods: An online survey was used to collect data on participant demographics and physical characteristics, factors influencing footwear selection, perceptions regarding footwear design features on injury and performance, and experiences regarding usability. Nominal and ordinal data were described as absolute frequencies and relative frequencies. Free text responses were analysed using content analysis. Sex‐related differences in quantitative and qualitative data were explored. Results: A total of 401 hockey players completed the survey. Participants reported that fit, comfort, support, and cushioning were the most important factors when selecting hockey footwear. Most hockey players believed that stud design could influence athletic performance (65%) and injury risk (63%) but reported having no preference on outsole design or stud shape. Most participants (63%) used hockey‐specific footwear, but 46% of female hockey players did not, with 40% using trail running footwear instead. Qualitative analysis revealed that hockey players, particularly female participants, encounter difficulties finding properly fitting footwear. They desire more options for wide or narrow feet and face challenges in accessing suitable hockey shoes due to limited choices and availability. Conclusions: With over a third of field hockey players not using hockey‐specific footwear, future research should attempt to understand the reasons and assess the impact of different footwear features on comfort, performance, injury risk, and usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The premium football boot is commonly only designed, tested, and manufactured for adult male players. Footwear worn by academy players is therefore not designed with growing athletes in focus. The study objective was therefore to assess the medical staffs' perception of football boot fit and their interactions with player's football boots. Medical staff from academy male players from elite category 1 and 2 football academies in the United Kingdom (UK) were surveyed using an validated online survey. Descriptive analysis and thematic analysis of the open ended question were conducted. A total of 49 responses were received of which five responses were removed as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Only one responder reported no complications with football boots for their academy players. The most reported area of concern in relation to players complain of pain/discomfort and/or fit in their football boots was the heel region (76%). Common concerns included blisters/corns/rubbing, sizing issues, adaptation issues with frequent change of boots, and players prioritizing aesthetics over fit and comfort. Education of players was also desired. The findings of this study highlight the desire for tailored footwear education and assessment programmes. The study also highlighted key concerns about injuries, fit, and performance not currently supported by research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot morphology varies between individuals of different sex and ethnicities across the world. Most commonly measured are foot length and breadth which have practical implications in shoe design and forensics. This review aims to identify relevant papers on the topic of foot morphological variation, and compare results. Searches were carried out on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science until January 2020. Live human subjects age 16 and over were included the study. Included studies were analysed using the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) Checklist (Tomaszewski et al., 2017) to determine the quality and reporting from the studies. Any study using cadavers, paediatric participants and those with any underlying condition that affected foot shape were excluded. This review included 17 studies involving 15,235 participants from across the globe. Evidence suggests that foot morphology differs among ethnicities and sex. Most significant differences were found between the Asian population when compared to Australian and Pacific Islanders. Females had smaller foot morphological measurements across all studies with the exception of lateral talocalcaneal angle and calcaneal pitch in two African studies which indicate the higher arch profile of females in this ethnic group. This review highlights the differences in foot morphology that exist between individuals of the same and different ethnicities and sex. Foot length is most commonly used for stature estimation and sex prediction and is more accurate for prediction than foot breadth. Results highlight the need for global shoe and orthotic manufacturers to broaden fit of footwear for worldwide inclusion and continued research with greater sample size and ethnicities to be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]