Footy boots can save careers
The design of a football boot could save an Aussie Rules player from career threatening foot and leg injuries, according to Mr Simon Bartold, Research Fellow at the University of South Australia.

Mr Bartold says Aussie Rules players at all levels should be wary of the impact of their football boots on their body, and ultimately their career. He says the design of some boots such as the Asics Lethal, endorsed by Sports Medicine Australia, may protect against career-threatening sports injuries such as Achilles Tendonitis.

“Aussie Rules players are sustaining leg and foot injuries, which might have been prevented if they were wearing the right footwear,” says Mr Bartold.

“A key feature of the Lethal series is the ‘raise gradient’ of 10mm, which means that the heel of the foot is slightly more elevated compared to the forefoot, ensuring that dorsiflexion occurs, and the ligaments and muscles in the forefoot are being used whilst running around rather than putting excess strain on the Achilles tendon and other leg muscles.

“We believe that this may protect players against the development of Achilles tendon injury, but there are a number of other common sports injuries, such as basic tendon and hamstring injuries, blisters, and the impact of shock and fatigue, which this boot may also protect against.

“The new Lethal Ultimate is designed so that the foot is closer to the ground – only 3mm from the ground to the forefoot area – which increases the level of proprioception, allowing the player wearing the boot to ‘feel’ the ground a lot more easily, and assist in cutting and twisting manoeuvres,” says Mr Bartold.

AFL star, Jared Crouch of the Sydney Swans, has worn the traditional Lethal boot for eight years and has played more consecutive games, without being sidelined by injury, than any other Swans player, and was recently crowned as the first player in the modern era to play 150 consecutive games from debut. He says the Lethal saved his career.

“I love the boot. The Lethal, with the design of its sole, has saved my career, which was threatened by stress fractures in my foot.

“Running around in the Lethal helped the injury and it is also equal if not superior in comfort compared to any other footy boot, and the new cleat system is excellent for turning,” said Crouch.

Other AFL players using the Lethal include Steven King of Geelong, Nathan Eagleton of The Western Bulldogs and Tyson Stenglein of the Adelaide Crows.

Mark Doherty of Asics Oceania says the Lethal Ultimate will carry a range of other Asics’ trade-mark features, all aimed at increasing player comfort.

“The boot uses our SpEVA 55 mid-sole material for increased stiffness to boost the spring rate. This stability is very important in a football boot that is being used for a running game such as Aussie Rules. The SpEVA technology also gave us the chance to design a boot that would bring the foot closer to the ground without compromising comfort or stability.

“The Lethal Ultimate also has front and rear GEL units to absorb impact and reduce the amount of shock on the body, and the Trusstic system provides over-pronation control,” said Doherty.

The Lethal Ultimate is also fitted out with ‘circular’ Multi Function Cleats which allows the cleat to cut and rotate through the turf or grass, whilst maintaining a solid grip on the ground. This type of twist/pivot motion is very common in Aussie Rules and other football codes.

The Lethal story began in 1990 when Asics set about designing a football boot on the premise that Aussie Rules is a running game, and that the platform of the traditional boot did not provide the best position for the foot to be in, thereby resulting in chronic injuries such as Achilles tendonitis.

Today, the Lethal Ultimate is based on the same concept, but is now a lighter, more comfortable and even safer design.

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Released on behalf of Asics Oceania by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations. For further information please contact David Lizzio or Dennis Rutzou on (02) 9413 4244.