Objective To explore the effects of basketball shoes with different shoe upper heights on ankle stability and dynamic characteristics of athletes during exercise.Methods Eighteen male basketball players were randomly selected,and data of the stability and dynamic characteristics of their ankle joints during exercise were collected using a 200 Hz infrared motion capture system and a 1000 Hz three-dimen-sional force platform.Comparative analysis was made on the dynamic characteristics of ankle joint angle,ankle joint range of motion,ankle joint three-dimensional angular velocity,ground reaction force,ankle joint torque,and power of basketball players wearing basketball shoes with different upper heights(low top,high top)during exercise.Results The study found that the maximum dorsiflexion,plantarflexion,eversion,and external rotation angles when wearing low top shoes were slightly higher than those when wearing high top shoes,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The maximum in-ward angle when wearing high top shoes was significantly higher than when wearing low top shoes(P<0.05).The maximum plantar flexion angular velocity of wearing high top shoes decreased by about 61.8°/s compared to wearing low top shoes,with a significant difference(P<0.05).The peak inward ground reaction force when wearing high top shoes was slightly higher than that when wearing low top shoes by 0.44 N·BW-1,with a significant difference(P<0.05).The maximum loading rate of the first peak force decreased with the increasing shoe upper height(P<0.05).The maximum ankle extension torque at the moment of landing when wearing low top shoes was 0.44 N·m/kg higher than when wearing high top shoes,with a significant difference(P<0.05).Conclusion When choosing basketball shoes,high top shoes are a better choice for strength basketball players who require high stability and protection,while for speed basketball players who pursue lightness and flexibility,low top shoes are more suitable.