In-Shoe Loading in Rearfoot and Non-Rearfoot Strikers during Running Using Minimalist Footwear

Abstract

Recent trends promote a "barefoot" running style to reduce injury. "Minimalist" shoes are designed to mimic the barefoot running with some foot protection. However, it is unknown how "minimalist" shoes alter plantar loading. Our purpose was to compare plantar loads between rearfoot strikers and non-rearfoot strikers after 4 weeks of running in minimalist footwear. 30 females were provided Vibram(®) Bikila shoes and instructed to gradually transition to running in these shoes. Plantar loading was measured using an in-shoe pressure sensor after the 4 weeks. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect differences in loading between rearfoot and non-rearfoot strikers in different plantar regions. Differences in plantar loading occurred between foot strike patterns running in minimalist footwear. Pressure and force variables were greater in the metatarsals and lower in the heel region in non-rearfoot strikers. Peak pressure for the whole foot was greater in non-rearfoot strikers while no difference was observed in maximum force or contact time for the whole foot between strike types. Allowing time for accommodation and adaptation to different stresses on the foot may be warranted when using minimalist footwear depending on foot strike pattern of the -runner.

Plantar loading changes with alterations in foot strike patterns during a single session in habitual rear foot strike female runners

“…These findings are similar to results previously reported by Kernozek et al (2014) where the peak force in the heel region during RFS running was 87.6% greater than NRFS running while the greatest increase in force was a 33.8% increase in the medial forefoot of performers wearing minimalist running shoes. This large increase in force observed in the heel (Jones et al, 1989;Mitchell, McKinley, & Robinson, 2009).…”

“…Higher total contact area with similar peak force and contact time during a RFS, likely helps to explain the lower peak pressure observed during NRFS running. Our results present absolute peak pressures that are somewhat less than those reported by Kernozek et al (2014), but is likely due to the difference in type of footwear used in these studies. Kernozek et al (2014) investigated differences between RFS and NRFS runners while wearing minimalist footwear but the current study used a standard cushioned running shoe.…”

“…Females are shown to have a 1.5 to 12 times greater prevalence of stress fractures compared to males (Callahan, 2000;Bennell & Brukner, 1997;Wentz, Liu, Haymes, & Ilich, 2011), Plantar loading may be related to injuries in running or be a predisposing factor for some foot injuries like metatarsal stress fracture (Donahue & Sharkey, 1999;Gross & Bunch, 1989). The role of footwear and barefoot running styles has become an area of increased interest within the running literature in recent years (Bonacci, Saunders, Hicks, Rantalainen, Vicenzino & Spratford 2013;Shih, Lin, & Shiang, 2013;Willson, Bjorhus, Williams, Butler, Porcari & Kernozek, 2014;Kernozek, Meardon, & Vannatta, 2014;Ridge et al, 2013). Minimalist footwear and barefoot running, in particular, have been associated with a particular running style known as a non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) pattern (Lieberman et al, 2010;Lieberman, 2012;Goss & Gross, 2012).…”

“…The use of a NRFS running pattern has been associated with decreased ground reaction forces and loading rates (Cavanagh & M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 4 Lafortune, 1980; Goss & Gross, 2012;Lieberman et al, 2010), decreased energy absorption of the lower extremity, primarily the knee (Williams, et al, 2012), and decreased rates of certain forms of lower extremity injuries (Daoud, Geissler, Wang, Saretsky & Daoud, 2012). However, running with a NRFS has been shown to alter the loading of other articulations of the kinetic chain, for instance, ankle, knee and hip joints (Almonroeder, Willson, & Kernozek, 2013;Bonacci et al, 2013;Kernozek et al, 2014;Kulmala, Avela, Pasanen, & Parkkari, 2013;Shih et al, 2013). For example, NRFS running is associated with increased gastrocnemius muscle activity (Bonacci et al, 2013) and greater Achilles tendon force (Almonroeder et al, 2013).…”

“…Plantar loading changes have been shown to differ with various types of footwear and FSPs (Becker, Howey, Osternig, James, & Chou, 2012;Hennig, & Milani, 1995;Kernozek et al, 2014;Wiegerinck, Boyd, Yoder, Abbey, Nunley & Queen, 2009).…”