Is the foot striking pattern more important than barefoot or shod conditions in running?

Shih, Yo; Lin, Kuan Lun; Shiang, Tzyy Yuang

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.01.030

Cited by 180 publications

(228 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Step length was longer when running with a RFS compared with a FFS, which is likely associated with the more extended knee at touchdown when running with a RFS 30 . Consistent with existing findings 34 , step length was longer when running in standard shoes than either minimal shoes or barefoot, independent of foot strike.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manipulation of Foot Strike and Footwear Increases Achilles Tendon Loading During Running

Rice

Patel

2017

Am J Sports Med

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Background:The Achilles tendon is the most common site of tendon overuse injury in humans. There has been a recent interest in running with a forefoot strike pattern and in minimal shoes, yet evidence is currently limited regarding the combined influence of foot strike and footwear on Achilles tendon loading.Purpose: To investigate the influence of both foot strike and footwear on Achilles tendon loading in habitual rearfoot strike runners. Study Design: Crossover study designMethods: Synchronised kinematic and force data were collected from 22 habitual rearfoot strikers (11 male), who habitually run in non-minimal running shoes, during overground running at 3.6 m.s -1 . Participants ran in three different footwear conditions (standard running shoe; minimal running shoe; barefoot) with both a rearfoot strike (RFS) and an imposed forefoot strike (FFS) in each footwear condition. Achilles tendon loading was estimated using inverse dynamics, where the Achilles tendon moment arm was determined using a regression equation.Conditions were compared using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA.Results: Achilles tendon impulse was greater when running with a FFS than a RFS in minimal shoes. Achilles tendon loading rates were higher when running either in minimal shoes or barefoot than in standard shoes, regardless of foot strike. Rice and Patel, Accepted in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 22 Feb 2017 Conclusions:In runners who habitually rearfoot strike in standard running shoes, running in minimal shoes or barefoot increased the rate of tendon loading, and running with a forefoot strike in minimal shoes increased the magnitude of tendon loading. Transitioning to these running conditions may increase the risk of tendinopathy. What is known about this subject?It has been shown that when running with a forefoot strike compared with a rearfoot strike, the internal ankle plantar flexor moment increases, but there are conflicting findings regarding whether this results in an increase in Achilles tendon force. Some of these findings may have been confounded by footwear. What this study adds to existing knowledgeThis study considered the influence of both foot strike and footwear on Achilles tendon loading during running, as well as their interactive effect. It has added to the knowledge in this area by identifying that foot strike influences the magnitude of loading, whereas footwear influences the rate, amongst habitual rearfoot strikers who are accustomed to running in standard running footwear.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manipulation of Foot Strike and Footwear Increases Achilles Tendon Loading During Running

Rice

Patel

2017

Am J Sports Med

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“…Specifically, converting from a rearfoot to a forefoot or midfoot strike pattern has been promoted as a means to reduce the peak impact force, loading rate, and knee extensor moment. 5,8,12,18,19,38 In a case series, Cheung and Davis 12 reported that individuals with PFP exhibited improvements in pain after transitioning to a nonrearfoot strike pattern. Furthermore, barefoot running, which typically results in a forefoot or midfoot strike pattern, 5,25,46 has been reported to decrease peak PFJ stress by 12% in asymptomatic runners.…”

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confidence: 99%

Sagittal Plane Trunk Posture Influences Patellofemoral Joint Stress During Running

Teng¹,

Powers²

2014

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy

109

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Study Design Cross-sectional, repeated-measures. Objectives To examine the association between sagittal plane trunk posture and patellofemoral joint (PFJ) stress, and to determine whether modifying sagittal plane trunk posture influences PFJ stress during running. Background Patellofemoral pain is the most common injury among runners and is thought to be the result of elevated PFJ stress. While sagittal plane trunk posture has been shown to influence tibiofemoral joint mechanics, no study has examined the influence of trunk posture on PFJ kinetics. Methods Twenty-four asymptomatic recreational runners (12 women, 12 men) ran overground at a speed of 3.4 m/s under 3 trunk-posture conditions: self-selected, flexed, and extended. Trunk and knee kinematics, ground reaction forces, and electromyographic signals from selected lower extremity muscles were obtained. A previously described PFJ biomechanical model was used to quantify PFJ stress. Results The mean ± SD trunk flexion angles under the self-selected, flexed, and extended running conditions were 7.3° ± 3.6°, 14.1° ± 4.8°, and 4.0° ± 3.9°, respectively. A significant inverse relationship was observed between mean trunk flexion angle and peak PFJ stress during the self-selected condition (r = −0.60, P = .002). Peak PFJ stress was significantly lower in the flexed condition (mean ± SD, 20.2 ± 3.4 MPa; P<.001) and significantly higher in the extended condition (23.1 ± 3.4 MPa; P<.001) compared to the self-selected condition (21.5 ± 3.2 MPa). Conclusion Sagittal plane trunk posture has a significant influence on PFJ kinetics during running. Incorporation of a forward trunk lean may be an effective strategy to reduce PFJ stress during running. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2014;44(10):785–792. Epub 25 August 2014. doi:10.2519/jospt.2014.5249

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“…One limitation was that we did not take into account the effect of the forces exerted by the dorsiflexor muscles. Shih et al [36] reported that the tibialis anterior muscle activation level was 8.5 % greater for RFS than for FFS during the contact phase of barefoot running. Previous studies [12,25] have reported that the maximal voluntary dorsiflexion moment is about 15-45 N · m. Therefore, an 8.5 % difference in the tibialis anterior muscle activation level may induce a 1-4 N · m difference in the dorsiflexion moment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Foot strike pattern has been thought to influence the potential risk of running-related injuries [8,21,23,36]. Previous studies reported that 69-75 % runners use the rearfoot strike (RFS) and 25-31 % runners use the midfoot strike (MFS) or rearfoot strike (RFS) [8,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untitled

2017

Sports Med Int Open

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IntroductionDistance running is known to reduce the risks of some health problems in runners [7,27,31,41]; however, distance running also has negative effects that result in musculoskeletal overuse injuries in the lower extremities. The incidence of running-related musculoskeletal overuse injuries in previous studies ranged from 20 to 79 % [39]. The lower leg, foot, and ankle, especially the Achilles tendon and tibia, are commonly affected in running-related injuries [19,24,26,38]. On the basis of material fatigue, large forces applied to injured regions will decrease the number of cycles to failure [3]. Therefore, a decrease in the force applied to the lower leg, foot, and ankle during running may be able to reduce the potential risk of running-related injuries at the Achilles tendon and the tibia for a given running distance and frequency.Foot strike pattern is generally classified into 3 types according to the ground reaction force (GRF) application point, relative to foot length, at the instance of foot contact [5]. Foot strike pattern has been thought to influence the potential risk of running-related injuries [8,21,23,36]. Previous studies reported that 69-75 % runners use the rearfoot strike (RFS) and 25-31 % runners use the midfoot strike (MFS) or rearfoot strike (RFS) [8,15]. It was reported that the vertical component of GRF during the early stance phase, and the loading rate of that force, were smaller for FFS and MFS than for RFS [5,22,23,28]. In these studies, it was suggested that FFS might reduce the potential risk of injury as compared with RFS. However, the GRF does not necessarily coincide with the forces applied to the Achilles tendon and the tibia, and the magnitude of forces applied to the Achilles tendon and the tibia may be much greater than the GRF [9,20,32,34]. Although previous studies suggested that measurements of GRF may not be sufficient to evaluate the potential risk of running-related injuries, it is difficult to directly measure the forces applied to the Achilles tendon and the tibia.An inverse dynamics approach might resolve this problem. The forces applied to the Achilles tendon and the tibia can be calculated as the Achilles tendon force and joint reaction force, respectively. At the instance of foot contact, the application point of the GRF is positioned at the ball of the foot for FFS, the middle of the foot for MFS, and the heel for RFS, respectively [5]. When the orientation of the GRF line of action is similar among the three foot strike patterns, the GRF moment arm, defined as the shortest distance between the ankle joint axis and the GRF line of action, is greater for FFS than the other two foot strike patterns. A difference in the GRF moment arm induces a difference in the moment of the GRF, Abstr Ac tGround reaction force is often used to predict the potential risk of injuries but may not coincide with the forces applied to commonly injured regions of the foot. This study examined the forces applied to the foot, and the associated moment arms made by three foot strik...

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Is the foot striking pattern more important than barefoot or shod conditions in running?

Cited by 180 publications

References 14 publications

Manipulation of Foot Strike and Footwear Increases Achilles Tendon Loading During Running

Manipulation of Foot Strike and Footwear Increases Achilles Tendon Loading During Running

Sagittal Plane Trunk Posture Influences Patellofemoral Joint Stress During Running

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