Running in a minimalist and lightweight shoe is not the same as running barefoot: a biomechanical study

Bonacci, J., Saunders, P. U., Hicks, A., Rantalainen, T., Vicenzino, B. T., & Spratford, W. (2013).

British Journal of Sports Medicine, 47(6), 387–392.

http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091837

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wayne_Spratford/publication/234124030/figure/fig1/AS:300058680545285@1448550972672/Group-mean-three-dimensional-kinematics-at-the-hip-top-panels-knee-middle-panels-and_W640.jpg

What this study adds

Shoes marketed as minimalist may not replicate the mechanics of running barefoot.

Compared with a runner's regular shoe, minimalist and lightweight shoes have only a small impact on highly trained runners gait.

How might it impact on clinical practice in the near future

Prescription of minimalist shoes as a mechanism to change running mechanics may not be justified.

Barefoot running increases in work at the ankle and reductions in work at the knee should be considered in training and rehabilitation.

Abstract and figures

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in running mechanics that occur when highly trained runners run barefoot and in a minimalist shoe, and specifically if running in a minimalist shoe replicates barefoot running. Methods: Ground reaction force data and kinematics were collected from 22 highly trained runners during overground running while barefoot and in three shod conditions (minimalist shoe, racing flat and the athlete's regular shoe). Three-dimensional net joint moments and subsequent net powers and work were computed using Newton-Euler inverse dynamics. Joint kinematic and kinetic variables were statistically compared between barefoot and shod conditions using a multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures and standardised mean differences calculated. Results: There were significant differences between barefoot and shod conditions for kinematic and kinetic variables at the knee and ankle, with no differences between shod conditions. Barefoot running demonstrated less knee flexion during midstance, an 11% decrease in the peak internal knee extension and abduction moments and a 24% decrease in negative work done at the knee compared with shod conditions. The ankle demonstrated less dorsiflexion at initial contact, a 14% increase in peak power generation and a 19% increase in the positive work done during barefoot running compared with shod conditions. Conclusions: Barefoot running was different to all shod conditions. Barefoot running changes the amount of work done at the knee and ankle joints and this may have therapeutic and performance implications for runners.

目的：この研究の目的は、高度に訓練されたランナーが裸足でミニマリストシューズを履いている場合、特に、ミニマリストの靴でのランニングが裸足のランニングを複製する場合に発生するランニングメカニクスの変化を特定することでした。方法：地面反力データと運動学は、裸足で3つのシュート状態（ミニマリストシューズ、レーシングフラット、アスリートのレギュラーシューズ）での地上走行中に、高度に訓練された22人のランナーから収集されました。 3次元の正味の接合モーメントとそれに続く正味の力と仕事は、ニュートンオイラー逆動力学を使用して計算されました。反復測定および標準化された平均差が計算された分散の多変量解析を使用して、運動学と運動の共同変数を裸足と靴下の状態の間で統計的に比較しました。結果：膝と足首の運動学的変数と運動学的変数について、裸足と履物条件の間に有意差があり、履物条件間に差はありませんでした。裸足でのランニングでは、ミッドスタンスでの膝の屈曲が少なく、膝の内部最大伸展と外転のピークが11％減少し、膝で行われた負の仕事が負傷状態と比較して24％減少しました。足首は、最初の接触時の背屈が少なく、ピーク時の発電量が14％増加し、裸足でのランニング中に正の仕事が19％増加しました。結論：裸足でのランニングは、すべての履物の状態とは異なりました。裸足でのランニングは、膝と足首の関節で行われる仕事量を変化させます。これは、ランナーに治療上およびパフォーマンス上の影響を与える可能性があります。