March Madness Seeding May Undervalue Hot Teams Resting Healthy NBA Players During the Season May Not Help Them in Playoffs More about basketball from Inside Science: Whether it's cushioning air cells in the sole, new types of rubber for better traction, lighter materials, or even the more gimmicky inflatable ankle support of the Reebok Pumps, the basketball shoe has always been a marriage of form and function. As sneaker culture has flourished - manifesting as a complex intersection of fashion, capitalism, politics, culture, race and society - basketball shoes continue to be at the forefront of footwear technology. Over the years, basketball shoes have morphed from simple canvas footwear to an array of high-tech gadgetry and bold styles. "The shoes themselves are designed to try and alleviate specific factors in terms of minimizing injury risk."įrom the classic Chuck Taylors to the latest Air Jordans, basketball footwear has usually meant high-tops, whose higher cut ostensibly provides support against sprains. "In any sport, I think shoes are very, very important," said Joseph Hamill, a biomechanist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Further protection, in principle, comes from his eponymous high-top shoes, made by Under Armour. The Warriors' title hopes may rest on his precarious ankles, which he tapes and braces for every game because of his well-documented injury history. Just ask the NBA's Stephen Curry, who last week twisted his ankle for the fourth time this season. The difference between victory and defeat can come down to a wayward bounce of the ball - or a turn of the ankle.Īn ankle sprain is the most common way to get hurt in basketball, accounting for a quarter of all injuries by some estimates. In the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, anything can happen. (Inside Science) - March Madness is upon us, full of buzzer-beaters and bracket-busters, Cinderellas and powerhouses.
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