Gait retraining reduces vertical ground reaction forces in running shoes and military boots

Abstract

Gait retraining can lead to persistent changes in vertical ground reaction forces while running in shoes. No studies describe gait retraining in military boots. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the difference between running in sports shoes and boots, before and after gait retraining, for selected biomechanical parameters, in service members with chronic exercise-related leg pain. Measurements of interest were stride length, cadence, maximal force (N), and maximal pressure (N/ cm 2 ) in three sections of the foot. Forty-one cases were analyzed. At intake, maximal force at the heel and maximal pressure in all sections of the foot were greater in boots. The median duration of the outpatient treatment program was 143 days (IQR 95), containing five gait retraining sessions (range 4-6), with four gait retraining cues repeated in all training sessions. These cues produced reduction in stride length, increase in cadence, reduction in force, and pressure in the heel, and force reduction and pressure increase in the forefoot. However, in boots maximal force and pressure in the mid foot increased. We concluded that the same gait retraining cues can be used to optimize ground reaction forces in running shoes and in military boots.

Conservative treatment of anterior chronic exertional compartment syndrome in the military, with a mid-term follow-up

“…Gait retraining for service members with exercise-related leg pain has been a topic of special interest in our department over the last years. Moreover, several studies showing the importance of training sessions in boots and the effectiveness of combining gait retraining cues have been published 15–17. A possible confounder is that the patients sent to the Military Rehabilitation Center had more severe exercise-related leg pain symptoms.…”

“…It appears that comprehensive conservative treatment for anterior CECS should be at least a 6-week programme and should include gait retraining of running and, in a military setting, retraining of marching and running while in boots. Fortunately, the same gait retraining cues are beneficial to treat the other overuse injuries in the exercise-related leg pain group including MTSS and overuse stress injuries 15 16…”

Association Between Intracompartmental Pressures in the Anterior Compartment of the Leg and Conservative Treatment Outcome for Exercise-Related Leg Pain in Military Service Members

“…Earlier it was thought no form of conservative treatment was helpful for ant-CECS, but now several articles show positive and promising results for gait retraining programs, especially in the military. 8 , 9 , 10 , 29 , 30 Diebal et al 8 were the first to report positive effects of gait retraining for ant-CECS; all 10 participants (100%) were able to return to base for active duty, without surgery. In our current study, 74 of 108 service members (69%) were able to return to active duty.…”

Speed Marching in Military Boots: The Walk-To-Run Transition Speed and Vertical Ground Reaction Forces

“…Gait retraining, the teaching of a running technique with less impact forces (vertical ground reaction forces), has become an integral part of the treatment of soldiers with overuse injuries of the lower extremity [4]. A study on the vertical ground reaction forces that occur during marching in boots at a speed of 5 km/h was also completed [5]. Limiting impact forces when marching in boots at this speed has been shown to be possible to a limited extent only.…”