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

Completed

Brief Summary: 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)

Detailed Description: 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

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.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Shod versus Barefoot Running	running with normal running shoes and barefoot	two running conditions, with normal running shoes and barefoot

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Metabolic Rate During Barefoot and Shod Running	Study consists of two visits, approximately 2 hours for each visit	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.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Peak Impact Forces During Barefoot and Shod Running	Study consists of two visits, approximately 2 hours for each visit	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.