Biomechanical and metabolic effects of a leaf spring structured midsole in heel–toe running

Wunsch, Tobias; Kröll, Josef; Strutzenberger, Gerda; Schwameder, Hermann

doi:10.1080/19424280.2015.1018342

Cited by 9 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Nine male, non-professional, long-distance runners (mean ± SD: age 32.9 ± 6.1 y, height 1.78 ± 0.04 m, mass 75.7 ± 5.6 kg, leg length 0.94 ± 0.03 m) volunteered to participate in the study. All participants had previously completed the treadmill study of Wunsch et al [ 7 ], and were familiarized in running with LEAF and FOAM footwear. All participants were heel strikers with a foot-ground angle at touch-down of at least 10 degrees, which was checked beforehand as an inclusion criterion [ 7 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, Nigg and Segesser [ 2 ] suggested that running shoe designs should focus on strategies to minimize energy loss. Consequently, material [ 5 , 6 ] and structural changes of running shoe midsoles have been considered [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast to a standard foam midsole shoe (FOAM, Fig 1B ) the midsole of LEAF consists of a series of non-linked leaf springs. The LEAF shoe uses the midsole deformation induced by the vertical ground reaction force for shifting the shoe anteriorly during the first part of stance phase in heel-toe running [ 7 ]. When using LEAF compared to FOAM in treadmill running, the anterior foot shift resulted in increased stride length and improved running economy [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Independent of the footwear joint power analysis during stance phase has indicated that in each joint energy is either absorbed (time-integrated negative power) or generated (time-integrated positive power) in distinct phases [ 9 ]. It has been shown that LEAF leads to an anterior foot shift during the first part of stance [ 7 ], therefore, it can be hypothesized that LEAF compared to FOAM affects especially the first part of stance showing reduced energy absorption of the lower limb joints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In case that LEAF affects the energy contribution of hip, knee and ankle joint it seems plausible that also lower limb muscle forces are affected by the midsole design. Because muscles consume metabolic energy [ 15 ], these differences in muscle forces could be relevant for explaining differences in running economy between LEAF and FOAM [ 7 ]. Within lower limb muscles the m. biceps femoris was identified to have the greatest impact on running economy [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of a leaf spring structured midsole on joint mechanics and lower limb muscle forces in running

et al. 2017

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To enhance running performance in heel-toe running, a leaf spring structured midsole shoe (LEAF) has recently been introduced. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a LEAF compared to a standard foam midsole shoe (FOAM) on joint mechanics and lower limb muscle forces in overground running. Nine male long-distance heel strike runners ran on an indoor track at 3.0 ± 0.2 m/s with LEAF and FOAM shoes. Running kinematics and kinetics were recorded during the stance phase. Absorbed and generated energy (negative and positive work) of the hip, knee and ankle joint as well as muscle forces of selected lower limb muscles were determined using a musculoskeletal model. A significant reduction in energy absorption at the hip joint as well as energy generation at the ankle joint was found for LEAF compared to FOAM. The mean lower limb muscle forces of the m. soleus, m. gastrocnemius lateralis and m. gastrocnemius medialis were significantly reduced for LEAF compared to FOAM. Furthermore, m. biceps femoris showed a trend of reduction in running with LEAF. The remaining lower limb muscles analyzed (m. gluteus maximus, m. rectus femoris, m. vastus medialis, m. vastus lateralis, m. tibialis anterior) did not reveal significant differences between the shoe conditions. The findings of this study indicate that LEAF positively influenced the energy balance in running by reducing lower limb muscle forces compared to FOAM. In this way, LEAF could contribute to an overall increased running performance in heel-toe running.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%