Effects of running with minimal and conventional footwear in habitual and non-habitual users: a musculoskeletal simulation and statistical parametric mapping based approach

Abstract

The current investigation examined running biomechanics in minimal and conventional footwear in two groups of runners who either ran habitually in minimal footwear (habitual minimal footwear users) or habitually in conventional footwear (non-habitual minimal footwear users). We studied ten male non-habitual minimal footwear users and ten male habitual minimal footwear users, who were required to complete ≥35 km per week of training. Lower extremity joint loading was explored using a musculoskeletal simulation approach. Differences between conditions were examined using statistical parametric mapping and 2x2 mixed ANOVA. This study revealed via the strike index that minimal footwear caused a more anterior contact position in both groups (habitual: minimal=61.68% & conventional=46.48% /non-habitual: minimal=33.79% & conventional=22.61%), although non-habitual runners still adopted a rearfoot strike pattern. In addition, in non-habitual users minimal footwear increased tibial accelerations (habitual: minimal=6.35g & conventional=7.06g /non-habitual: minimal=9.54g & conventional=8.16g), loading rates (habitual: minimal=105.44BW/s & conventional=105.97BW/s /non-habitual: minimal=293.00BW/s & conventional=154.36BW/s) and medial tibiofemoral loading rates (habitual: minimal=196.17BW/s & conventional=274.96BW/s /non-habitual: minimal=274.96BW/s & conventional=212.57BW/s). Furthermore, minimal footwear decreased patellofemoral loading in both habitual (minimal=0.28BW•s & conventional=0.31BW•s) and non-habitual (minimal=0.26BW•s & conventional=0.29BW•s) users. Finally, Achilles tendon loading was larger in minimal footwear and in habitual runners (habitual: minimal=0.79BW•s & conventional=0.71BW•s /non-habitual: minimal=0.71BW•s & conventional=0.65BW•s) whereas iliotibial band strain rate was reduced in habitual (minimal=28.32%/s & conventional=30.30%/s) in relation to non-habitual (minimal=42.96%/s & conventional=42.87%/s) users. This study highlights firstly the importance of transitioning to minimal footwear and also indicates that post transition they may be effective in attenuating the biomechanical mechanisms linked to the aetiology of many chronic injuries.

Acute Effects of Gait Interventions on Tibial Loads During Running: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…4 c, Table 2 ). Three studies [ 23 , 46 , 49 ] comparing minimalist shoe use in non-habitual wearers with use of a conventional running shoe found a ‘moderate’ increase in tibial loading ( I 2 = 0%, SMD 0.89; 95% CI 0.40, 1.39) (Fig. 4 d, Table 2 ).…”

Effects of running in minimal, maximal and traditional running shoes: a musculoskeletal simulation exploration using statistical parametric mapping and Bayesian analyses

“…Importantly, the efficacy of musculoskeletal simulation modelling approaches is dependent on the accuracy and fidelity of the underlying model being used to quantify the kinetics of the movement and conditions being investigated (Sinclair et al, 2020). A range of assumptions and mathematical simplifications are made in the development of musculoskeletal models for simulation analyses, which may have impacted the results from the current investigation.…”

Lower Extremity Kinetics and Kinematics in Runners with Patellofemoral Pain: A Retrospective Case–Control Study Using Musculoskeletal Simulation

“…Further to the above, the patellofemoral force (BW) and patellofemoral stress (KPa/BW) experienced per mile were also quantified to explore the effect of step length on loading at this joint [48]. The number of steps needed to complete 1 mile was quantified using the step length (m), which was determined by taking the difference in the horizontal position of the foot centre of mass between the right and left limbs at foot strike from each running trial [49].…”