Work

Comparative analysis of heel fat pad morphology among university athletes from different sports

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The heel fat pad (HFP) is an important shock-absorbing tissue involved in dynamic activities. Although body weight is known to influence HFP thickness, the differences in HFP morphology among athletes across sports have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to compare HFP morphology across seven sports with qualitatively distinct loading characteristics and to identify factors influencing between-sport differences. HFP morphology was evaluated using ultrasonography in 286 male university athletes from 7 sports (basketball, n = 26; American football, n = 30; weightlifting, n = 16; judo, n = 60; sumo, n = 28; sprint/middle-distance running, n = 26; and long-distance running, n = 100) and 12 nonathletic controls. The thicknesses of the microchamber, macrochamber (MAC), and whole layers were measured under non-pressed and pressed conditions. A three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (group × condition × layer) was performed, followed by Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test. Three-way ANOVA revealed significant main effects of group (partial η² = 0.39), condition (partial η² = 0.85), and layer (partial η² = 0.94; all p < .001). Sumo wrestlers showed the thickest HFP, primarily attributable to MAC layer thickness, whereas long-distance runners showed the thinnest HFP. Despite their substantially higher body weight, judo athletes showed HFP thickness comparable to that of the control group. HFP thickness markedly differed across the sports groups, and these differences were broadly consistent with body weight differences across groups, in line with previous literature. The finding that judo athletes exhibited HFP thickness comparable to that of the control group despite their greater body weight suggests that sport-specific loading characteristics may also contribute to HFP morphology.

Source: BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation

DOI: 10.1186/s13102-026-02038-4

Authors: Toshihiro Maemichi, Masatomo Matsumoto, Takumi Okunuki, Toshiharu Tsutsui, Tsukasa Kumai

Institution: Waseda University

Language: English

Topic: Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,890