Although the role of shoe constructions on running injury and performance has been widely investigated, systematic reviews on the shoe construction effects on running biomechanics were rarely ...reported. Therefore, this review focuses on the relevant research studies examining the biomechanical effect of running shoe constructions on reducing running-related injury and optimising performance. Searches of five databases and Footwear Science from January 1994 to September 2018 for related biomechanical studies which investigated running footwear constructions yielded a total of 1260 articles. After duplications were removed and exclusion criteria applied to the titles, abstracts and full text, 63 studies remained and categorised into following constructions: (a) shoe lace, (b) midsole, (c) heel flare, (d) heel-toe drop, (e) minimalist shoes, (f) Masai Barefoot Technologies, (g) heel cup, (h) upper, and (i) bending stiffness. Some running shoe constructions positively affect athletic performance-related and injury-related variables: 1) increasing the stiffness of running shoes at the optimal range can benefit performance-related variables; 2) softer midsoles can reduce impact forces and loading rates; 3) thicker midsoles can provide better cushioning effects and attenuate shock during impacts but may also decrease plantar sensations of a foot; 4) minimalist shoes can improve running economy and increase the cross-sectional area and stiffness of Achilles tendon but it would increase the metatarsophalangeal and ankle joint loading compared to the conventional shoes. While shoe constructions can effectively influence running biomechanics, research on some constructions including shoe lace, heel flare, heel-toe drop, Masai Barefoot Technologies, heel cup, and upper requires further investigation before a viable scientific guideline can be made. Future research is also needed to develop standard testing protocols to determine the optimal stiffness, thickness, and heel-toe drop of running shoes to optimise performance-related variables and prevent running-related injuries.
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Foot orthoses are widely used in runners with pronated feet, who are characterized with large forefoot abduction and arch deformation during gait. However, the relationship between the amount of ...forefoot and arch orthotic correction and the alterations in foot biomechanics remains unclear.
This study aimed to determine dose-response effects of foot orthoses with forefoot wedge and arch support components on the center of pressure (COP) trajectories and pressure distribution during running in symptomatic pronated feet.
Fifteen recreational runners participated in this study. A pressure plate was used to measure plantar pressures during running with control shoe only and ten foot orthoses, varying in forefoot wedges (5 levels) and arch supports (2 levels). The COP trajectory across the entire stance phase was compared between orthotic and control conditions using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping. The differences in the force-time integral (FTI) and temporal variables were explored between conditions using repeated measures ANOVAs. The main effect of the two orthotic components and their interaction on tested variables were examined using two-way ANOVAs.
A forefoot wedge, whether laterally or medially located, shifted the COP trajectory laterally during some subphases of running (p < 0.05), while using an arch support only had minimal effect on the COP. Almost all orthoses reduced the FTI on the 2nd metatarsal and medial heel, and only medial forefoot wedges reduced the FTI on the hallux. There was a linear effect of forefoot wedges on the medial-lateral COP displacements during the propulsion phase, but no interactions were found between two orthotic components.
These findings suggest that forefoot orthotic components rather than arch supports are effective in altering forefoot dynamics in runners with pronated feet. This study could have implications for foot orthotic prescription and running-related injury prevention for individuals with pronated feet.
•Forefoot wedges shifted the COP laterally during running.•Medial forefoot wedges reduced the plantar loading on the hallux.•Forefoot wedges had a linear effect on the COP during the propulsion phase.•Arch supports had minimal effects on the COP trajectory.•There was no interaction between forefoot wedges and arch supports on the COP.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This study examined the effects of shear reduction shoes on braking and propulsion ground reaction forces (GRFs), free moments, and joint moments when cutting towards different directions. Fifteen ...male university basketball players performed sidestep cutting towards 45°, 90° and 135° directions with maximum-effort in shear reduction and control shoes. Two-way (angle x shoe) ANOVAs with repeated measures were performed to determine the interaction and main effects of cutting angle and shoe for all tested variables. Results showed that cutting angles had significant influence on most of the variables, except for the peak-free moment, peak ankle eversion moment and maximum loading rate of resultant shear GRF. The shear reduction shoes significantly delayed the timing to the first peaks of vertical and resultant shear GRFs compared with the control shoes. During propulsion, the shear reduction shoes generated smaller peak propulsion resultant shear and vertical ground reaction forces. Additionally, the shear reduction shoes did not induce distinct frontal and transverse moments at the ankle and knee joints compared with the control shoes. These results suggest that the application of shear reduction structure could be beneficial to attenuate vertical and shear impact peaks, offering additional insights to reduce shear-related injuries.
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Providing runners with footwear that match their functional needs has the potential to improve footwear comfort, enhance running performance and reduce the risk of overuse injuries. It is currently ...not known how footwear experts make decisions about different shoe features and their properties for runners of different levels. We performed a Delphi study in order to understand: 1) definitions of different runner levels, 2) which footwear features are considered important and 3) how these features should be prescribed for runners of different levels. Experienced academics, journalists, coaches, bloggers and physicians that examine the effects of footwear on running were recruited to participate in three rounds of a Delphi study. Three runner level definitions were refined throughout this study based on expert feedback. Experts were also provided a list of 20 different footwear features. They were asked which features were important and what the properties of those features should be. Twenty-four experts, most with 10+ years of experience, completed all three rounds of this study. These experts came to a consensus for the characteristics of three different running levels. They indicated that 12 of the 20 footwear features initially proposed were important for footwear design. Of these 12 features, experts came to a consensus on how to apply five footwear feature properties for all three different running levels. These features were: upper breathability, forefoot bending stiffness, heel-to-toe drop, torsional bending stiffness and crash pad. Interestingly, the experts were not able to come to a consensus on one of the most researched footwear features, rearfoot midsole hardness. These recommendations can provide a starting point for further biomechanical studies, especially for features that are considered as important, but have not yet been examined experimentally.
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We aimed to examine the changes in balance performance, kinematic variables, and joint coordination of the lower extremities during the Y-balance learning task. Twenty female university students ...completed five consecutive blocks of Y-balance learning from days 3 to 7 (135 trials). Pre-tests and tests were performed on days 1 and 9. Maximum reach distance, peak joint angle, and joint coordination in the anterior (AL), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) directions were measured to determine the efficacy of Y-balance performance. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed for the maximum reach distance across learning blocks to confirm whether learning had occurred. Our results indicated that the maximum reach distance on day 5 was longer than that on other learning days. The maximum reach distance significantly increased in the PL and PM directions after learning. The hip flexion (PL/PM), abduction (PM), internal rotation (PM), and external rotation (PL) angles increased after learning. The knee joint flexion angle increased in both AL and PL directions. Only the ankle dorsiflexion angle increased in the AL direction. Joint coordination indicated that the knee and hip joints performed simultaneously during internal rotation. Ankle-knee joint coordination was performed using dorsiflexion and flexion strategies. Statistical parametric mapping analysis indicated significant differences in the ankle sagittal plane in the AL direction, hip horizontal and hip/knee sagittal planes in the PL direction, and hip/knee sagittal and hip frontal/horizontal planes in the PM direction. These data suggest that the dynamic balance ability of the novice participants improved in relation to changes in coordination patterns after learning. The results of this study can be applied to other populations to improve their dynamic balance and prevent fall injuries.
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•The CRP tools has been increasingly used to assess movement coordination.•CRP encompasses several biomechanical parameters into a high-order variable.•Various CRP variables are used to observe ...coordination changes across studies.•However, the interpretation of CRP findings are not intuitive.•This review facilitates application and interpretation for future studies.
Continuous relative phase (CRP) has gained popularity to assess movement performances in recent decades.
The application and interpretation of CRP in common movements such as running and jumping are still unclear.
This systematic review summarized the current applications, methodology, parameters of interest, and interpretations of CRP variables in running and jumping. Reviewed articles were found in five databases from January 1999 to December 2020, and 1613 records were obtained. After applying selection criteria and analysis of study quality to titles, abstracts, and full texts, 38 articles were identified for subsequent review.
Twenty-eight reviewed articles relating to running were found to compare the coordination among pathological gait, footwear designs, running speed, gender, age, running level, fatigue state, and treadmill effect. In addition, ten reviewed articles relating to jumping were found to compare the coordination among different types of jump (e.g., squat jump coordination, countermovement jump, single leg jump) and insole effect.
The CRP and its variability (CRPv) are two common variables to describe the changes and differences of coordination patterns, respectively. These reviewed articles suggest that CRP tools are effective to assess the coordination and performances in running and jumping, as these values are related to external (environment/equipment) and internal (self-biological) changes. In the future, studying higher-order analysis of movement patterns using CRP tools can provide meaningful interpretation of movement behavior.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This study examined the effects of lower-body compression garments on perceived recovery and subsequent performance in basketball athletes. In a parallel-group design, 30 recreational, male ...basketball athletes were randomly allocated to either a control (CON, n = 15, loose-fitting clothing) or experimental group (COMP, n = 15, compression garments) for 15 h following fatigue-inducing, basketball-specific exercise in the evening (1600-1800 h). Perceptual measures of fatigue and muscle soreness, as well as physical performance tests (sprints, jumps and agility), were performed pre-exercise, post-exercise, and post-recovery (15 h following exercise). Subjective and objective measures of sleep were recorded following the exercise trial. There were non-significant (p > 0.05), unclear-trivial differences between groups for all performance measures. Perceived post-recovery fatigue (d = −1.27, large) and muscle soreness (d = −1.61, large) were significantly lower in COMP compared to CON (p < 0.05). COMP exhibited better perceived sleep quality (d = 0.42, small, p = 0.18) than CON, with an unclear difference in sleep duration between groups (p > 0.05). Wearing lower-body compression garments overnight improved perceived fatigue and muscle soreness, but had negligible effects on subsequent physical performance in basketball athletes. Future research should focus on longer periods of compression wear following fatiguing exercise.
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(1) Background: While previous studies revealed how underground mining might adversely affect the cardiopulmonary functions of workers, this study further investigated the differences between under- ...and aboveground mining at both high and low altitudes, which has received little attention in the literature. (2) Methods: Seventy-one healthy male coal mine workers were recruited, who had worked at least 5 years at the mining sites located above the ground at high (>3900 m; n = 19) and low (<120 m; n = 16) altitudes as well as under the ground at high (n = 20) and low (n = 16) altitudes. Participants’ heart rates, pulmonary functions, total energy expenditure and metabolism were measured over a 5-consecutive-day session at health clinics. (3) Results: Combining the results for both above- and underground locations, workers at high-altitude mining sites had significantly higher peak heart rate (HR), minimum average HR and training impulse as well as energy expenditure due to all substances and due to fat than those at low-altitude sites. They also had significantly higher uric acid, total cholesterol, creatine kinase and N-osteocalcin in their blood samples than the workers at low-altitude mining sites. At underground worksites, the participants working at high-altitude had a significantly higher average respiratory rate than those at low-altitude regions. (4) Conclusion: In addition to underground mining, attention should be paid to high-altitude mining as working under a hypoxia condition at such altitude likely presents physiological challenges.
The study investigated whether an alteration of the shoe heel curvature would influence lower extremity biomechanics and comfort perception in running. Twenty recreational habitual rearfoot strikers ...performed five running trials in running shoes with three different heel curvature designs (short-parallel, long-parallel and oblique curvatures). Synchronised force plate and motion capturing systems were used to collect three-dimensional lower extremity joint kinetics and kinematics, followed by subjective comfort perception on the 15 cm Visual Analogue Scale. The results showed that participants wearing oblique and long-parallel curvature shoes exhibited larger initial frontal shoe-ground angle (p= 0.003, p= 0.016) and ankle inversion angle (p= 0.008, p= 0.032) as well as higher maximum sagittal foot slap velocity (p= 0.041, p = 0.011) compared with a short-parallel curvature shoe. When wearing the short-parallel curvature shoe, participants had better rearfoot stability perception than the oblique curvature shoes (p = 0.028). These results suggest that the short parallel curvature shoes had better motion control and stability perception than the other two curvature conditions. However, the design of heel curvature seems to have minimal influence on the cushioning related variables in running.
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