Effect on Oxygen Cost of Transport from 8-Weeks of Progressive Training with Barefoot Running

Abstract

Popular interest in barefoot running has emerged as a result of its alleged performance and injury prevention benefits. Oxygen cost of transport (COT) improvements from barefoot running, however, remains equivocal. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of an 8-week progressive barefoot training program on COT and associated spatiotemporal variables. 15 male runners participated in this study. Variables such as oxygen uptake, biomechanical and spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, including ground contact (GC) and swing time; stride length and frequency and ankle plantar-dorsiflexion were measured pre- and post-intervention. The COT did not differ between barefoot and shod running either pre- or post-training. Improved barefoot COT (p<0.05) but not shod was found between pre- and post-training. Biomechanical differences between barefoot and shod conditions persisted over the training period. A decrease in barefoot COT was associated with a decrease in GC time (p=0.003, r=0.688) and a small increase in stride frequency (p=0.030; r=0.569). Ground contact time and stride frequency, previously associated with COT, only partly contribute (32% - Stride frequency and 47% - GC time) to a decrease in COT after barefoot training. Thus other physiological and biomechanical variables must influence the improvement in COT after a barefoot training intervention.

From barefoot hunter gathering to shod pavement pounding. Where to from here? A narrative review

“…96 The literature supports our view that barefoot running is well tolerated by most individuals when progressed in a careful manner, as is the case with any new exercise intervention. [97][98][99] Although we recommend a cautious approach to integrating barefoot running and walking in previously shod adults, it should be noted that adolescents in New Zealand, classed as being habitually barefoot, are comfortable running distances of up to 3000 m barefoot on a tartan track.…”

Habitual Minimalist Shod Running Biomechanics and the Acute Response to Running Barefoot

“…Over time, however, runners appear to alter their running mechanics in an attempt to better fit the condition. It may be that once a runner has successfully adapted to any given condition presented by a specific running shoe, or lack thereof, the condition may not heavily influence the risk of sustaining an injury; nevertheless, it has shown to improve performance [29].…”

Effects of a 12-week gait retraining program combined with foot core exercise on morphology, muscle strength, and kinematics of the arch: A randomized controlled trial

“…The INT group performed FFS training combined with foot core exercise ( Tam et al, 2015 ; Krabak et al, 2017 ) to enhance intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscle strength during static and dynamic tasks. To ensure that the INT group can master the intervention method, we gathered the INT group and our running coach explained and demonstrated the FFS and foot core exercises in the first week.…”

“…During the FFS training, each participant was required to run in an FFS pattern and was given an appropriately fitted pair of Vibram Five Fingers shoes, which aimed to protect the foot soles from the rough ground and simulate barefoot running to give the participant a habituation process for the strike pattern transition ( Paquette et al, 2013 ; McCarthy et al, 2014 ). The duration of FFS running was increased every week based on protocols from previous literature ( Tam et al, 2015 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ) ( Table 2 ). The INT group was allowed to do rear-foot strike running with cushioning running shoes when out of training to maintain a running distance of a total of at least 20 km/week.…”