Variation of Kinematic and Dynamic Parameters with the Use of Minimalist Shoes in the Entry Phase of the Hammer Throw

This study investigates the biomechanical implications of footwear choice on the start phase of the hammer throw, aiming to determine whether minimalist footwear can be integrated into training without negatively affecting technical execution. A cohort of six trained hammer throwers performed the initial three rotations (start phase) under two different footwear conditions: standard World Athletics-approved throwing shoes and minimalist Fivefingers shoes by Vibram. Participants were divided between two motion capture laboratories for geographical reasons while ensuring consistent methodological application across environments. The objective was to assess whether the minimalist footwear-known to enhance activation of intrinsic foot musculature-alters key technical elements of the throwing motion. Analysis was structured around five biomechanically relevant instants within the entry phase, before the start of the turns, enabling comparison across footwear conditions of five parameters relative to the hammer head and the right foot motion, obtained using stereophotogrammetry (tangential hammer velocity, right joint movements and ground reaction forces. Preliminary results aim to determine whether the use of minimalist footwear brings an advantage to the throwers in the entry phase of throwing and whether it can be a useful tool for use in training.