Impact Acceleration During Prolonged Running While Wearing Conventional Versus Minimalist Shoes
Marta Izquierdo-Renau1, Ana Queralt1, Alberto Encarnación-Martínez1
1University of Valencia.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|February 26, 2020
Summary
Minimalist running shoes increase impact accelerations in the tibia and head compared to conventional shoes, potentially raising injury risk. Prolonged running did not significantly alter these effects between footwear types.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
- Running Science
Background:
- Minimalist footwear is increasingly popular among runners seeking a more natural running style.
- This trend is partly driven by the goal of reducing running-related injuries.
- However, the biomechanical effects of minimalist shoes during prolonged running require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of minimalist shoes (MS) versus conventional shoes (CS) on foot-impact accelerations during prolonged running.
- To determine how footwear type affects stride characteristics and impact forces over time.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen experienced runners participated in two separate running sessions, one with MS and one with CS.
- Participants ran for 30 minutes at 80% maximum aerobic speed.
- Stride length, stride frequency, and tibial and head impact accelerations were measured every 5 minutes.
Main Results:
- Running in MS significantly increased tibial (p=0.009) and head (p=0.000) impact acceleration rates compared to CS.
- MS led to increased stride frequency and decreased stride length (p<0.05).
- The effects of prolonged running on impact accelerations were not significantly different between MS and CS (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- The higher peak tibia and head impact accelerations associated with MS suggest a potentially increased risk of injury.
- These biomechanical differences persist regardless of runner fatigue during prolonged exercise.
- Runners using minimalist footwear should be aware of the altered impact dynamics and potential injury implications.
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