Effect Of Step Rate On Foot Strike Pattern And Running Economy In Novice Runners

Abstract

Purpose-The objective was to examine if step rates ±5% or ±10% of a novice runner's preferred step rate (SR) is sufficient enough to shift a novice runner's foot strike pattern (FSP) (rear-foot, mid-foot, forefoot) and whether these SR changes produce changes in the rate of submaximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 ).Methods-Foot strike angle (FSA) was recorded using sagittal plane video images and VO 2 was measured for novice runners while running on a treadmill at a constant speed during increased and decreased (±5% and ±10%) SR conditions. Foot strike angle was used to predict strike index (SI) (predicted strike index = [FSA -27.4]/-0.39) and quantify FSP in each SR condition.Results-Predicted SI was significantly different between preferred SR and the -5% (p = .014), -10% (p = .001), and the +10% (p = .007) SR conditions.There was a shift to higher predicted SI measures in the increased SR conditions and lower predicted SI measures in the decreased SR conditions. Oxygen consumption was significantly increased in the -5% and -10% SR conditions (p =.000 and p = .003, respectively).Conclusion--Manipulations of SR produce shifts in FSP in novice runners and these changes cause small changes in submaximal VO 2 .

Kinematics Analysis of Male Runners via Forefoot and Rearfoot Strike Strategies: A Preliminary Study

“…During running, there are commonly three modes of running: forefoot strike (FFS), midfoot strike (MFS), and rearfoot strike (RFS) mode [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Taking the vertical pressure center of the foot at the moment of the foot landing, if it falls between 0% and 33%, it is associated with the RFS; if it falls between 33% and 67%, it is pertinent to the MFS; and if it falls between 67% and 100%, it corresponds to the FFS [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

“…During running, there are commonly three modes of running: forefoot strike (FFS), midfoot strike (MFS), and rearfoot strike (RFS) mode [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Taking the vertical pressure center of the foot at the moment of the foot landing, if it falls between 0% and 33%, it is associated with the RFS; if it falls between 33% and 67%, it is pertinent to the MFS; and if it falls between 67% and 100%, it corresponds to the FFS [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Additionally, a survey of leisure runners reveals that about 69–95.1% of them employ RFS and MFS, and only 4.9–31% utilize the FFS, which demonstrates that most runners are accustomed to the RFS and MFS running modes, and only a few runners employ the FFS [ 7 , 8 ]; nevertheless, the evaluation approach through the pressure center of the ground foot is quite clear.…”