Peak Impact Forces and Metabolic Cost During Mid-Forefoot Striking in Shod Versus Barefoot Runners

University of Florida22 enrolled

Overview

This experimental study will compare impact forces and metabolic cost in runners (N=20; ages 18-45 years, who already use a forefoot strike running gait) in two treadmill running test sessions (shod vs barefoot running)

Specific Aim 1: To identify if differences in metabolic cost exist between barefoot versus cushioned shod FM strikers during an acute bout of running exercise. Hypothesis: The metabolic cost will be higher in the cushioned shod runners with forefoot and midfoot strike compared to the barefoot runners. Specific Aim 2: To identify if differences in peak impact forces exist between barefoot versus cushioned shod runners in forefoot-midfoot (FM) strikers. Hypothesis: Peak impact forces will be higher in the barefoot runners with a forefoot and midfoot striking running style compared to the cushioned shod runners with a forefoot and midfoot striking running style.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy

Interventions

running with normal running shoes and barefootOTHER

shod condition: normal running shoes barefoot condition: running with no shoewear

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * trained runners with a running foot striking style of either initial forefoot or midfoot strike. * run on average at least 20 miles/week * be able to run for at least 20 minutes at one session * free of any orthopedic limitation Exclusion Criteria: * history of lower extremity injury within the last 6 months prior to testing * rear-foot strike running style * does not run in a cushioned shoe on any occasion * runs on average \< 20 miles/week * unable to run for 20 minutes or greater * presence of any open wound or deformity on the feet which would prevent participant from running barefoot * neurologic injury that would preclude normal running activity.

Locations (1)

UF&Shands Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Metabolic Rate During Barefoot and Shod Running

This study will measure the metabolic rate when a person runs on the treadmill with shoes (shod) and without shoes. Each person will run for 20 minutes on the treadmill on two different days, one with and one day without shoes.

Time frame: Study consists of two visits, approximately 2 hours for each visit

Secondary Outcomes

Peak Impact Forces During Barefoot and Shod Running

This study will be measuring the peak impact forces that a runner produces when running on the treadmill with shoes (shod) and without shoes. Each person will run for 20 minutes on the treadmill on two different days, one with and one day without shoes.

Time frame: Study consists of two visits, approximately 2 hours for each visit

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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