Abstract
Two types of floor surfaces are used in kendo gymnasiums (kendo-jyo). The first is a polyurethane resin
(PR), and the other is non-coated wood (NC). The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of floor surface to sports injuries and subjective evaluations of the influence of floor surface on performance in kendo. Subjects were 626 members of kendo clubs at thirteen universities. Furthermore, the relationship between sports injuries and the use of protective equipment was explored by multi-correspondence analysis (MCA). Subjective evaluations of floor surface on performance were subjected to factor analysis. Moreover, to investigate the relationship of floor surface to sports injuries and subjective evaluation of the influence of the floor surface on performance, logistic analysis was conducted and odds ratios (OR) were calculated. According to structural relationship identified by MCA, the use of protective equipment was found to be associated with sports injury, but not for. From the subjective evaluations of floor surfaces, the following three factors were extracted: "slip, spring and burden on the body," "thermal sensation when hot or cold and endurance for wet," and "slip and endurance for dry." In the PR group, subjects reported training for a short time (OR=.240), and many experienced pain in the Achilles’ tendon (OR=2.238). In evaluations of floor surfaces, NC was considered to have better "spring," "humid," and "impact on the sole of the foot," but PR was considered to have better "bracing in shooting for striking" and "dryness." When selecting PR or NC as the floor surface in kendo-jyo, it is most important to consider each surface’s burden on the body and influence on performance in kendo.
