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

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine whether habitual minimalist shoe runners present with purported favorable running biomechanithat reduce running injury risk such as initial loading rate. Eighteen minimalist and 16 traditionally cushioned shod runners were assessed when running both in their preferred training shoe and barefoot. Ankle and knee joint kinetics and kinematics, initial rate of loading, and footstrike angle were measured. Sagittal ankle and knee joint stiffness were also calculated. Results of a two-factor ANOVA presented no group difference in initial rate of loading when participants were running either shod or barefoot; however, initial loading rate increased for both groups when running barefoot (p=0.008). Differences in footstrike angle were observed between groups when running shod, but not when barefoot (minimalist:8.71±8.99 vs. traditional: 17.32±11.48 degrees, p=0.002). Lower ankle joint stiffness was found in both groups when running barefoot (p=0.025). These findings illustrate that risk factors for injury potentially differ between the two groups. Shoe construction differences do change mechanical demands, however, once habituated to the demands of a given shoe condition, certain acute favorable or unfavorable responses may be moderated. The purported benefits of minimalist running shoes in mimicking habitual barefoot running is questioned, and risk of injury may not be attenuated.

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“…Results of this study show that LR on average is significantly increased when switching from shod running to barefoot running which may increase the risk of injury (Zadpoor & Nikooyan, 2011). Our finding coincides with others studies which showed that shod runners on first barefoot attempt may not lower their loading rates (Cheung & Rainbow, 2014;Tam et al, 2017). The observed decrease in stance time also coincides with other studies (De Wit et al, 2000a;Divert et al, 2005;Bonacci et al 2013).…”

“…Some researchers found a reduction in loading rate (LR) in habitual barefoot runners who land on their forefoot (Divert et al, 2005;Lieberman et al, 2010). Other research shows that there is an increase in initial loading rate when switching from shod running to barefoot running (Tam et al 2017).…”

Biomechanics of Shod and Barefoot Running: A Literature Review

“…Methodological aspects of each study are summarized in Figure 2. In 19 studies, 11,15,16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] participants ran on instrumented track; in 18 studies, [12][13][14]17,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] their participants had run on instrumented treadmill; while three [48][49][50] did not inform where participants had run. Regarding running speed, in 21 studies 11,[14][15][16][17][18]24,26,28,…”

A non-Invasive Assessment of Ground Reaction Forces in the Human Leg in Response to Walking, Jogging, Running and Jumping

“…These authors went on to conclude that racing flats are associated with a higher risk of stress fracture of the metatarsal bones compared to training shoes [16]. However, in another study it was reported that whilst shoe construction changes mechanical demands whilst running, runners quickly become habituated to the demands of a given shoe [17].…”