{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]],"date-time":"2025-10-03T08:42:30Z","timestamp":1759480950953,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]],"date-time":"2025-10-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759449600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Fundamental Research Funds for Beijing Sport University","award":["2025KYPT03"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2025KYPT03"]}]},{"name":"General Administration of Sport of China","award":["24KJCX080"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["24KJCX080"]}]},{"name":"Hubei Undergraduate Colleges and Universities Provincial Teaching Reform Research Project","award":["2024389"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024389"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: This study investigated sex differences in foot arch structure and function, and their impact on postural control and energy flow during dynamic tasks. Findings aim to inform sex-specific training, movement assessment, and injury prevention strategies. Methods: A total of 108 participants (53 males and 55 females) underwent foot arch morphological assessments and performed a sit-to-stand (STS). Motion data were collected using an infrared motion capture system, three-dimensional force plates, and wireless surface electromyography. A rigid body model was constructed in Visual3D, and joint forces, segmental angular and linear velocities, center of pressure (COP), and center of mass (COM) were calculated using MATLAB. Segmental net energy was integrated to determine energy flow across different phases of the STS. Results: Arch stiffness was significantly higher in males. In terms of postural control, males exhibited significantly lower mediolateral COP frequency and anteroposterior COM peak velocity during the pre-seat-off phase, and lower COM displacement, peak velocity, and sample entropy during the post-seat-off phase compared to females. Conversely, males showed higher anteroposterior COM velocity before seat-off, and greater anteroposterior and vertical momentum after seat-off (p &lt; 0.05). Regarding energy flow, males exhibited higher thigh muscle power, segmental net power during both phases, and greater shank joint power before seat-off. In contrast, females showed higher thigh joint power before seat-off and greater shank joint power after seat-off (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Significant sex differences in foot arch function influence postural control and energy transfer during STS. Compared to males, females rely on more frequent postural adjustments to compensate for lower arch stiffness, which may increase mechanical loading on the knee and ankle and elevate injury risk.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15101550","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]],"date-time":"2025-10-03T07:57:27Z","timestamp":1759478247000},"page":"1550","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Sex Differences in Foot Arch Structure Affect Postural Control and Energy Flow During Dynamic Tasks"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Xuan","family":"Liu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shu","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yan","family":"Pan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi 435002, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lei","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ye","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1177\/107110070602700509","article-title":"The effect of gender, age, and lateral dominance on arch height and arch stiffness","volume":"27","author":"Zifchock","year":"2006","journal-title":"Foot Ankle Int."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gaitpost.2017.12.001","article-title":"Comprehensive biomechanical characterization of feet in USMA cadets: Comparison across race, gender, arch flexibility, and foot types","volume":"60","author":"Song","year":"2018","journal-title":"Gait Posture"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.7547\/15-051","article-title":"The relationship between arch height and arch flexibility: A proposed arch flexibility classification system for the description of multidimensional foot structure","volume":"107","author":"Zifchock","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. 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