The Influence of Minimalist and Maximalist Footwear on Patellofemoral Kinetics During Running

Abstract

The current study aimed to comparatively examine the effects of minimalist, maximalist, and conventional footwear on the loads experienced by the patellofemoral joint during running. Twenty male participants ran over a force platform at 4.0 m×s-1. Lower limb kinematics were collected using an 8-camera motion capture system allowing patellofemoral kinetics to be quantified using a musculoskeletal modeling approach. Differences in patellofemoral kinetic parameters were examined using one-way repeated-measures ANOVA. The results showed the peak patellofemoral force and pressure were significantly larger in conventional (4.70 ± 0.91 BW, 13.34 ± 2.43 MPa) and maximalist (4.74 ± 0.88 BW, 13.59 ± 2.63 MPa) compared with minimalist footwear (3.87 ± 1.00 BW, 11.59 ± 2.63 MPa). It was also revealed that patellofemoral force per mile was significantly larger in conventional (246.81 ± 53.21 BW) and maximalist (251.94 ± 59.17 BW) as compared with minimalist (227.77 ± 58.60 BW) footwear. As excessive loading of the patellofemoral joint has been associated with the etiology of patellofemoral pain symptoms, the current investigation indicates that minimalist footwear may be able reduce runners' susceptibility to patellofemoral disorders.

Patellofemoral Joint Loads during Running Immediately Changed by Shoes with Different Minimalist Indices: A Cross-sectional Study

“…This finding is consistent with those in previous studies [20,21]. Sinclair and Esculier [7,8] reported that the body actively changed the lower limb strategy while wearing minimalist shoes, i.e., increased step rates, lowered foot inclination angle at foot strike and reduced knee maximum flexion angle and joint range of motion (ROM). Moreover, according to the equation for the knee joint angle and the patellofemoral joint contact area, a decreased knee ROM decreased the patellofemoral joint contact area during the stance phase of runners wearing minimalist shoes; this condition is adverse to the reduction of PFJS.…”

“…Esculier [8] tested shoes with different MI with regards to running mechanics and observed that a higher MI shoe indicates a low foot inclination angle at foot strike and a low peak PFCF. Sinclair [7] compared minimalist, cushioned and maximalist shoes in terms of patellofemoral kinetics and observed that the knee ROM decreased when the runner was wearing minimalist shoes. Interestingly, the patellofemoral joint loads were greater with the low-MI shoes, i.e., maximalist shoes, than with the others.…”

“…With the development of technology, new materials and designs have been applied to sports shoes, especially midsole structures, to reduce the load on the lower extremities. The unique mechanical structures of different sports shoes can change the force characteristics of the human running gait [7]. For healthy runners, wearing different sneakers can affect the biomechanical characteristics of the lower extremities, such as stride frequency, ground contact angle, vertical load rate and joint force [8].…”

“…The standardised definition of minimalist shoes, the Minimalist Index (MI), was developed to allow running shoes to be distinguished based on their degree of minimalism, and may help to decrease injuries related to footwear transition [9]. Numerous studies have verified [7,10,11] that minimalist shoes can change the landing posture of the lower limbs, mainly focusing on the adaptation of the ankle joints, that is changing the angle between the foot and the ground, the tendency of forefoot pattern strike and the adaptability of the calf triceps and the Achilles tendon. Relatively few studies have focused on knee load and this condition limits the understanding of the relationship between sneakers and knee joints, especially the patellofemoral joint.…”

What are the perceptions of runners and healthcare professionals on footwear and running injury risk?

“…While research has yet to show the superiority of maximalist or minimalist shoes in preventing injuries, it is apparent that various types of footwear cause runners to run differently and shift loads to different body parts. 14 Greater running shoe cushioning tends to increase VLR [15][16][17] and knee joint forces, 18 but decrease ankle forces and peak foot pressure. Conversely, lower cushioning tends to shift initial foot contact closer to the midfoot or forefoot, thus decreasing VLR 19 and knee joint forces, [20][21][22] but increasing ankle forces and foot pressure.…”