1. Immediate and short-term biomechanical adaptation of habitual barefoot runners who start shod running.
- Author
-
Au, Ivan P.H., Lau, Fannie O.Y., An, Winko W., Zhang, Janet H., Chen, Tony L., and Cheung, Roy T.H.
- Subjects
- *
PHYSIOLOGICAL adaptation , *ATHLETIC shoes , *BIOMECHANICS , *KINEMATICS , *PROBABILITY theory , *RUNNING , *STATISTICAL significance - Abstract
This study investigated the immediate and short-term effects of minimalist shoes (MS) and traditional running shoes (TRS) on vertical loading rates, foot strike pattern and lower limb kinematics in a group of habitual barefoot runners. Twelve habitual barefoot runners were randomly given a pair of MS or TRS and were asked to run with the prescribed shoes for 1 month. Outcome variables were obtained before, immediate after and 1 month after shoe prescription. Average and instantaneous vertical loading rates at the 1-month follow-up were significantly higher than that at the pre-shod session (P < 0.034,η2p> 0.474). Foot strike angle in the TRS group was significantly lower than that in the MS group (P = 0.045,η2p = 0.585). However, there was no significant time nor shoe effect on overstride, knee and ankle excursion (P > 0.061). Habitual barefoot runners appeared to land with a greater impact during shod running and they tended to have a more rearfoot strike pattern while wearing TRS. Lower limb kinematics were comparable before and after shoe prescription. Longer period of follow-up is suggested to further investigate the footwear effect on the running biomechanics in habitual barefoot runners. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF