Should runners change their foot strike pattern?

NewsBot · Sep 15, 2024

Effects of Foot-Strike Pattern on Neuromuscular Function During a Prolonged Graded Run
Gianluca Vernillo et al
Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2024 Sep 6:1-4

Purpose: To study whether, during typical-level running, non-rear-foot strikers (non-RFS) or rear-foot strikers (RFS) presented a similar or different extent of neuromuscular fatigue after a prolonged graded run.

Methods: Sixteen experienced male trail runners (8 non-RFS and 8 RFS) performed a 2.5-hour treadmill graded running exercise. Before and after exercise, neuromuscular tests were performed to assess neuromuscular fatigue of the plantar flexors. Biomechanical gait parameters were acquired with an instrumented treadmill, and electromyographic activity of the lower-limb muscles was collected as an index of muscle activation.

Results: There were no significant time × foot strike interactions for neuromuscular (all P ≥ .742), muscle activation (all P ≥ .157), or biomechanical (all P ≥ .096) variables.

Conclusions: A dominant level running foot-strike pattern did not directly affect the extent of neuromuscular fatigue during a prolonged graded run. This suggests that no ideal running foot-strike pattern exists to minimize neuromuscular fatigue during prolonged-duration races wherein cumulative uphill and downhill segments are high, such as in trail running.
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NewsBot · Sep 27, 2024

The impact of toe spring and foot strike angle on forefoot running biomechanics: a finite element analysis
Fengping Li et al
Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2024 Sep 16:1-11

The surge in popularity of running has led to a multitude of designs in running shoe technology, notably, there is an increasing trend in toe spring elevation. However, the impact of this design on foot structures during running remains an essential exploration. To investigate the effects of toe spring on the foot during forefoot running, we employed finite element simulation to create two sole models with different toe spring heights (6.5 cm and 8 cm) and ground contact angles (5°, 10°, and 15°). We established and validated two foot-shoe coupling models and compared stress variations in metatarsal bones and the big toe under identical loading and environmental conditions. Higher toe spring resulted in lower peak stress and reduced stress concentration in metatarsal bones. The fourth and fifth metatarsals exhibited increasing stress trends with ground contact angle, with the fifth metatarsal experiencing the most significant stress concentration. In the case of low toe spring, stress on the fifth metatarsal increased from 15.917 MPa (5°) to 27.791 MPa (15°), indicating a rise of 11.874 MPa. Conversely, the first metatarsal showed lower stress, indicating relative safety but reduced functional significance. Moreover, higher toe spring running shoes exerted less pressure on the big toe, with an increasing trend in stress on the big toe with an increase in ground contact angle. Shoes with a higher toe spring design result in reduced pressure on the big toe. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid landing angles greater than 15° to prevent stress fractures resulting from repetitive loading.
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NewsBot · Nov 10, 2024

Detecting Foot Strikes during Running with Earbuds
Changshuo Hu
Source

Running is a widely embraced form of aerobic exercise, offering various physical and mental benefits. However, improper
running gaits (i.e., the way of foot landing) can pose safety
risks and impact running efficiency. As many runners lack
the knowledge or continuous attention to manage their foot
strikes during running, in this work, we present a portable
and non-invasive running gait monitoring system. Specifically, we leverage the in-ear microphone on wireless earbuds
to capture the vibrations generated by foot strikes. Landing
with different parts of the foot (e.g., forefoot and heel) generates distinct vibration patterns, and thus we utilize machine
learning to classify these patterns for running gait detection.
With data collected from 25 subjects, our system achieves an
accuracy of 87.80% in identifying three gait types. We also
demonstrate its robustness under a variety of scenarios and
measure its system performance.
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NewsBot · Nov 19, 2024

The effects of telehealth running gait retraining on biomechanics, pain, and function in patients with lower extremity injuries: A randomized clinical trial
Erin M. Florkiewicz et al
Source
Highlights
• Telehealth gait retraining improved pain more than physical therapy alone.
• Foot strike pattern was altered in half of the intervention group participants.
• Step rate, kinetics, and function did not differ between groups post-intervention.

Background
In-clinic gait retraining has been effective in modifying suspected biomechanical risk factors for running injury, but its feasibility is often limited by multiple clinic visits. This randomized clinical trial investigated the effects of a telehealth-based gait retraining intervention on running biomechanics, pain, and function in previously injured runners.
Methods
Twenty-three participants recovering from lower extremity injuries were randomized to a control or intervention group. The intervention group completed 4 to 6 telehealth gait retraining sessions over 8 to 10 weeks, consisting of visual and verbal cues to transition to a non-rearfoot strike pattern and increase step rate. The control group received standard physical therapy. Biomechanics, pain, and function were assessed pre- and post-intervention using a 2 × 2 mixed model analysis of variance.
Findings
Half of the participants (55 %) in the intervention group successfully transitioned to a non-rearfoot strike pattern. No significant differences were observed between groups in step rate, biomechanics, or function. A significant group-by-time interaction for pain was observed (F = 10.55, P = 0.004), with the intervention group reporting greater reductions in pain compared to the control group (mean difference 2.52, 95 % CI 0.91 to 4.12).
Interpretation
Despite only half of participants adopting the desired gait pattern, telehealth gait retraining may offer a low-risk, accessible, and convenient alternative for select patients who lack in-person care options or have not responded to other pain reduction methods when returning to running from a lower extremity injury.
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NewsBot · Nov 25, 2024

The impact of toe spring and foot strike angle on forefoot running biomechanics: a finite element analysis
Fengping Li,Dong Sun,Chengyuan Zhu,Qiaolin Zhang,Yang Song,Xuanzhen Cen, show all
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering: 16 Sep 2024

The surge in popularity of running has led to a multitude of designs in running shoe technology, notably, there is an increasing trend in toe spring elevation. However, the impact of this design on foot structures during running remains an essential exploration. To investigate the effects of toe spring on the foot during forefoot running, we employed finite element simulation to create two sole models with different toe spring heights (6.5 cm and 8 cm) and ground contact angles (5°, 10°, and 15°). We established and validated two foot-shoe coupling models and compared stress variations in metatarsal bones and the big toe under identical loading and environmental conditions. Higher toe spring resulted in lower peak stress and reduced stress concentration in metatarsal bones. The fourth and fifth metatarsals exhibited increasing stress trends with ground contact angle, with the fifth metatarsal experiencing the most significant stress concentration. In the case of low toe spring, stress on the fifth metatarsal increased from 15.917 MPa (5°) to 27.791 MPa (15°), indicating a rise of 11.874 MPa. Conversely, the first metatarsal showed lower stress, indicating relative safety but reduced functional significance. Moreover, higher toe spring running shoes exerted less pressure on the big toe, with an increasing trend in stress on the big toe with an increase in ground contact angle. Shoes with a higher toe spring design result in reduced pressure on the big toe. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid landing angles greater than 15° to prevent stress fractures resulting from repetitive loading.
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NewsBot · Nov 25, 2024

Randomized Controlled Trial of Gastrocnemius Muscle Analysis Using Surface Electromyography and Ultrasound in Different Striking Patterns of Young Women’s Barefoot Running
Yuwei Liu
Justin Fernandez
Source

Running has become a popular national sport, increasing the risk of related injuries. Different striking patterns, such as forefoot (FFS) and rearfoot striking (RFS), contribute to varying injury types and influence muscle dynamics in the lower leg. This study examines the differences in force modes and muscle morphology of the gastrocnemius calf muscle under distinct striking patterns. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with twenty young female runners, ten typically striking on their forefoot and ten on their rearfoot, all without lower limb injuries in the past six months. Pre-run ultrasound measurements assessed the muscle thickness and pennation angle of the right gastrocnemius muscle, and electromyography (EMG) data were recorded post-treadmill run. An independent sample t-test compared the two groups. At the loading response stage, there was no significant difference in the root mean square (RMS) amplitude of the gastrocnemius muscle between the FFS and RFS groups, likely due to the delay between muscle activation and force generation. However, from mid-swing to late swing, the FFS group exhibited higher RMS amplitude, reflecting significantly greater muscle activation in the gastrocnemius muscle. This suggests increased muscle stiffness in the FFS group to cope with ground reaction forces, alongside higher activation and median frequency values in both the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), making the FFS group more prone to fatigue. Additionally, the gastrocnemius muscle thickness and fiber length in the RFS group were greater than in the FFS group. One limitation of this study is that inferring greater muscle explosive force solely based on muscle thickness and fiber length may be insufficient. Future research should incorporate biomechanical indicators, such as force plate testing, to better understand the relationship between muscle structure and function across different running styles.
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NewsBot · Dec 7, 2024 at 11:03 PM

Biomechanical Differences Between Habitual Forefoot and Rearfoot Strike Running: A Systematic Review
Hairong Chen et al
Advanced Exercise and Health Science 4 December 2024

In recent years' research, the scientific and clinical communities have shown increased interest in the differences between foot strike patterns due to their biomechanical implications and the associated injury risks. This review aims to investigate the biomechanical differences between habitual forefoot and rearfoot strike running. A literature search across three databases identifies 671 articles using Boolean operators, with specific eligibility criteria applied to refine the results. After a detailed screening, 11 articles meet the inclusion criteria for this review. Compared with rearfoot strike (RFS) runners, the findings reveal that forefoot strike (FFS) runners land with a plantar-flexed ankle and greater hip and knee flexion, enhancing cushioning and reducing knee joint forces, which may lower the risk of knee injuries such as patellofemoral pain syndrome. This FFS improves running efficiency by increasing leg stiffness and generating ankle plantarflexion moments that facilitate elastic rebound. However, the greater reliance on the ankle and calf muscles in FFS running elevates the risk of achilles tendon injuries and plantar fasciitis. In contrast to FFS runners, RFS runners land with a dorsiflexed ankle, resulting in higher impact peaks and loading rates that transfer mechanical load to the knee, increasing the risk of knee injuries. The differences in ground reaction forces and muscle activation patterns between FFS and RFS running highlight the significant influence of foot strike mechanics on both running performance and injury risk. These insights provide valuable information, enhancing the understanding of human movement for the prevention of sports injury, supporting injury management and training optimization, such as retraining runners with patellofemoral pain toward the FFS or refining techniques to enhance performance.
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Should runners change their foot strike pattern?

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Should runners alternate their running shoes .

Should We Retrain the Gait of Asymptomatic Runners?

Foot sole stretching and foam rolling and shoulder range of motion

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Arch Supports should NOT be used in treating a Flexible Flatfoot

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Should runners change their foot strike pattern?

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Should runners alternate their running shoes .

Should We Retrain the Gait of Asymptomatic Runners?

Foot sole stretching and foam rolling and shoulder range of motion

Why Podiatrists Should Use Heel Lifts In Their Practice

Arch Supports should NOT be used in treating a Flexible Flatfoot

Do we all have feet half as strong as they should be ?

Should Adolescents Run Marathons?

Share This Page

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