Effect of the upward curvature of toe springs on walking biomechanics in humans

Sichting, Freddy; Holowka, Nicholas B.; Hansen, Oliver B.; Lieberman, Daniel E.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-71247-9

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…The first MTPJ in the sagittal plane was significantly reduced in the shod condition, which was consistent with previous studies ( Lin et al, 2013 ; Wegener et al, 2015 ; Sichting et al, 2020 ). Specifically, Wegener et al (2015) found that shoes reduced the first MTPJ’s peak EX during running from 31.5° (barefoot) to 12.6° (shod), and Sichting et al (2020) found that the EX ROM of the first MTPJ decreased from 27.9 (barefoot) to 19.7 (shod). The minimum EX angle of the first MTPJ in the shod condition was significantly increased.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Human metatarsal heads are dorsally oriented and mediolaterally broad articular surfaces. The dorsally oriented metatarsal heads in the human forefoot are thought to increase the range of EX motion at the MTPJ by providing more dorsal articular surface area on which the proximal phalangeal base can slide ( Fernandez et al, 2016 ; Sichting et al, 2020 ) In the current study, the EX trend of the first MTPJ was consistent with the superior/inferior translation trend, which further supported the result of the previous study ( Phillips et al, 1996 ). The shoe limited the flexion and extension of the first MTPJ, thus reducing the ROM of joint translation in the sagittal plane.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The minimum EX angle of the first MTPJ in the shod condition was significantly increased. It may partially be due to the toe spring of the footwear, which increased the minimum EX angle during the stance phase ( Sichting et al, 2020 ). In addition, runners exhibited significantly greater medial longitudinal arch compression in the barefoot condition than in the shod condition ( Holowka et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of Shod and Barefoot Running on the In Vivo Kinematics of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint

Zhang

et al. 2022

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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The biomechanics of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) is affected by different shoe conditions. In the biomechanical research field, traditional skin marker motion capture cannot easily acquire the in vivo joint kinematics of the first MTPJ in shoes. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the differences of the first MTPJ’s six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) kinematics between shod and barefoot running by using a high-speed dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS). In total, 15 healthy male runners were recruited. Computed tomography scans were taken from each participant’s right foot for the construction of 3D models and local coordinate systems. Radiographic images were acquired at 100 Hz while the participants ran at a speed of 3 m/s ± 5% in shod and barefoot conditions along an elevated runway, and 6DOF kinematics of the first MTPJ were calculated by 3D–2D registration. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare the kinematic characteristics of the first MTPJ 6DOF kinematics during the stance phase between shod and barefoot conditions. Compared with barefoot, wearing shoes showed significant changes (p < 0.05): 1) the first MTPJ moved less inferior at 50% but moved less superior at 90 and 100% of the stance phase; 2) the peak medial, posterior, and superior translation of the first MTPJ significantly decreased in the shod condition; 3) the extension angle of the first MTPJ was larger at 30–60% but smaller at 90 and 100% of the stance phase; 4) the maximum extension angle and flexion/extension range of motion of the first MTPJ were reduced; and 5) the minimum extension and adduction angle of the first MTPJ was increased in the shod condition. On the basis of the high-speed DFIS, the aforementioned results indicated that wearing shoes limited the first MTPJ flexion and extension movement and increased the adduction angle, suggesting that shoes may affect the propulsion of the first MTPJ and increase the risk of hallux valgus.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Influence of Shod and Barefoot Running on the In Vivo Kinematics of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint

Zhang

et al. 2022

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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“…As regular use of minimal footwear was the only intervention introduced in our study, and the control group showed no changes, it must be concluded that daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength for healthy adults, confirming our second hypothesis. Mechanistically, this is probably due to the lower bending stiffness of minimal shoes compared to conventional shoes, which are typically harder to flex about the MPJ, and may also be part explained by the absence of a structural toe spring which has been suggested to weaken the foot 47 . This stiffness contributes to the resistive force required for the foot to be a stiff lever upon push-off, thereby reducing the demand on the foot muscles during gait.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength

Curtis

Willems

Paoletti

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The human foot is uniquely adapted to bipedal locomotion and has a deformable arch of variable stiffness. Intrinsic foot muscles regulate arch deformation, making them important for foot function. In this study we explore the hypothesis that normal daily activity in minimal footwear, which provides little or no support, increases foot muscle strength. Western adults wore minimal footwear for a six-month period (the “intervention” group). Foot strength, i.e., maximum isometric plantarflexion strength at the metatarsophalangeal joints, and foot biometrics were measured before and after the intervention. An additional group was investigated to add further insight on the long-term effects of footwear, consisting of Western adults with an average 2.5 years of experience in minimal footwear (the “experienced” group). This study shows that foot strength increases by, on average, 57.4% (p < 0.001) after six months of daily activity in minimal footwear. The experienced group had similar foot strength as the post intervention group, suggesting that six months of regular minimal footwear use is sufficient to gain full strength, which may aid healthy balance and gait.

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“…As regular use of minimal footwear was the only intervention introduced in our study, and the control group showed no changes, it must be concluded that daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength for healthy adults, confirming our second hypothesis. Mechanistically, this is probably due to the lower bending stiffness of minimal shoes compared to conventional shoes, which are typically harder to flex about the MPJ, and may also be part explained by the absence of a structural toe spring which has been suggested to weaken the foot 47 . This stiffness contributes to the resistive www.nature.com/scientificreports/ force required for the foot to be a stiff lever upon push-off, thereby reducing the demand on the foot muscles during gait.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength

Curtis

D’Août

2019

Footwear Science

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In addition to strength and muscle size, minimal footwear may also influence foot morphology because they tend to have a wider toe box than conventional shoes. Habitually minimally shod participants have been found to have significantly higher longitudinal arches than conventionally western shod participants 38 . This is in agreement with a study by Hollander et al. 39 who found significantly higher static arch heights in habitually barefoot children between the ages of six and 18 years when compared to their conventionally shod children. A study by D' Août et al. 40 found no differences between static or dynamic longitudinal arch heights of habitually barefoot Indians, habitually shod Indians and conventionally western shod Europeans but, based on pressure recordings, the Indian groups had slightly more (albeit less variable) midfoot contact. In terms of morphology, most studies agree that habitually barefoot and/or minimally shod populations have wider feet [41][42][43] . This study will investigate minimal footwear influence on morphology as well as foot strength on habitually conventionally Western shod healthy adults.This study has two central aims. The first is to quantify the influence of six months of regular minimal footwear use on foot strength and morphology, for adults that were previously habitually conventionally western shod. The second is to quantify the longer-term influence of regular minimal footwear use on foot strength and biometrics. We hypothesise the following:1. Foot width increases in conventionally western shod populations after using minimal footwear for daily activity over a six-month period. 2. Foot strength increases in conventionally western shod populations after using minimal footwear for daily activity over a six-month period. 3. Foot strength is further increased in conventionally western shod populations if regular use of minimal footwear is longer than a six-month period. MethodsThe present paper combines a prospective study and a cross-population study. The prospective study investigates the influence of six months of daily activity in minimal footwear on foot strength and biometrics, for adults that were habitually using conventional Western shoes prior to the study, and a control group. This group will be further referred to as the "intervention" study group. We further report on a group that has been studied crosssectionally. This group consists of formerly conventionally shod western adults that have switched to minimal shoes for a longer period (2.5 ± 2.4 years). This group will be further referred to as the "experienced" study group.

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Effect of the upward curvature of toe springs on walking biomechanics in humans

Cited by 16 publications

References 49 publications

Influence of Shod and Barefoot Running on the In Vivo Kinematics of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint

Influence of Shod and Barefoot Running on the In Vivo Kinematics of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint

Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength

Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength

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