Physical education classes improve foot function in high-school students using technological tools

Abstract

The aim of this study was the evaluation of a coordinative and plyometric training program on the functionality of foot in high school students. The use of modern technologies tools was used to made attractive the didactic approach. Sixty–three students were freely recruited and randomly divided into Training Group and Control Group. Training group consisted in plyometrics, balance and strength exercises while the control’s remained off-training. Subjects were tested for balance ability, reactive-strength and dynamic-ground-contact using high technology tool. The TG significative improved the balance ability performance by 68% while CG remained unchanged. The reactive-strength index revealed a 13% gain in training group although this increase resulted not significantly different from control. The dynamic-ground-contact performance revealed in TG only a tendency of decreasing. A specific training program affected the functionality of foot even if the application of stimulus was time restricted. Moreover, the use of technologies verified an interesting use of tools in school context that could involve students proactively.