Foot Strike Patterns
Discussion: The objective of the first article investigated stride length, stride frequency, ground contact, and flight times for three different conditions; running barefoot, running in minimalist shoes, and running in conventional running shoes. The results of the study showed that the stride duration in barefoot running was less than the stride duration in the traditional or minimalist shoe running. Overall the results also showed that the traditional shoes had a longer stride duration when compared to the minimalist shoes. Velocity also had a significant impact on stride duration. “Stride duration was significantly greater at V1 than V2 across all conditions “ The results also showed that barefoot running resulted in a higher stride frequency when compared to the traditional and minimalist shoe conditions. Velocity also impacted stride frequency. “Stride frequency was significantly higher at V2 than V1.” (McCallion et al., 2014) When comparing the results of this article to the main articles findings there are many similarities. The main article that stride length is affected by both speed and footwear. This article finds that stride duration and
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stride frequency are also affected by footwear and velocity. Even though the articles findings are not for the same thing, what affects them and how is very similar. Both articles found that during barefoot running the stride length and stride duration were shortened, which leads to an increase of stride frequency. Each article credits this effect to the foot strike pattern. Both McCallion and Francis, acknowledge that during barefoot running the location of the heel is located over the center of mass, which causes the decrease in stride length and stride duration and an increase in stride frequency. The second article investigated the influence of shoe cushioning on the knee and ankle kinematics of distance runners. The results of this article show that the uncushioned minimalist shoe, the cushioned minimalist shoe, and the standard running shoe had a significant influence on ankle angles, stride frequency, and step length. During this experiment the each condition was tested at three different velocities, and the results show that the ankle angles had a significant difference between all shoe conditions for each velocity except when comparing the cushioned minimalist and standard shoe conditions. There were also different rates of rear-foot strikes for the different footwear conditions. The results show that the standard running shoe had the highest rate of rear-foot strikes, followed by the cushioned minimalist shoe, the uncushioned minimalist shoe, and barefoot conditions. While running barefoot the subjects took the smallest steps and had the highest stride frequency. While the standard running shoe led to the highest step length and smallest stride frequency. (Hollander, Argubi-Wollesen, Reer, and Zech, 2015) Comparing the results of this article to the main articles results is somewhat difficult because there are not as many similarities. Even though the studies were conducted in a similar manner their objectives were different. One similarity the two articles have is ankle angle. Both articles observed the difference in ankle angles under each condition and velocity while conducting their experiments. The main articles result showed that the difference in ankle angle for the shod condition was 2°, and the difference for the barefoot condition was -5°. Where this articles results showed that the difference in the ankle angle for the combined footwear conditions was less than 0.001°, and the difference for the combined footwear conditions and velocities was 0.026°. Another similarity the two articles have is the results for step length and stride frequency. Both articles find that barefoot running results in the smallest steps while having the highest stride frequency, and that when running in the standard running shoe it results to the highest step lengths while having the smallest stride frequency. The objective of the third article was “to examine the effects of a 6-week training program of simulated barefoot running on running kinetics in habitually shod female recreational runners.” The results of this study showed a significant difference between foot-striking patterns in both the shod running and the simulated barefoot running. The results for the spatiotemporal variables; stride length, stride frequency, step time, contact time, and flight time was found to be significantly different between the shod running condition and the simulated barefoot running condition. “The stride length was significantly lower during the simulated barefoot running condition compared to the shod condition.” The results for stride frequency showed that it was significantly greater in the simulated barefoot running condition than in the shod running condition. Both of these results caused a decrease in step time when running barefoot. (Khowailed, 2015) The results of this article when compared to the main articles results show many similarities. The first similarity is the difference in the foot striking patterns, and where the heel is located. Khowailed and Francis both find that during barefoot running the heel is better located over the center of mass, which cause less heel striking while running. They find that during shod running the heel is not located over the center of mass, and this cause more heel striking while running. Another similarity between the two articles is the spatiotemporal variables results. Each experiment’s results showed that barefoot running decreases stride length, increases stride frequency, and decreases step time. Their results also showed that during shod running conditions stride length was increased and stride frequency was decreased. The fourth article examined the changes in foot strike pattern in footwear and speed. Fredericks, “Our study reveals that foot strike pattern changes with footwear, but not with speed.” The results show that there was less rear foot striking with minimalist running shoes, and this helps reduce impact forces without shoe cushioning. The results indicate that if speed is increased while under the traditional running shoe condition there will be an increase in step length, but if speed is increased while under the minimalist shoe or barefoot condition there will be a decrease in step length. The reduced stride length that occurs under the minimalist shoe and barefoot conditions allows for reduction in ground reaction forces. (Fredericks, Swank, Teisberg, Hampton, Ridpath, and Hanna, 2015) Similar to the previous three articles when comparing this articles results to the main article’s results many similarities are found.
One similarity is that foot strike patterns only changed in footwear, speed had little to no effect on foot strike pattern. Another similarity is what occurred when speed was increased under each condition. Both Fredericks and Francis found that an increase in speed under a shod condition will cause an increase in step length, and that an increase in speed under a barefoot condition will cause a decrease in step length. Both of the articles results show that a decrease in step length under the barefoot condition will also lead to an increase in stride frequency, and the mechanics behind this condition reduce the ground reaction forces and the risk of injury for these
runners. The objective of the fifth article was to determine the effect shoe type has on stride length reduction on lower-extremity running mechanics and cumulative loading. The statistical results showed that the shoes mainly effected stride length only. The results also show that the minimalist shoe condition’s foot strike index was significantly greater compared to the foot strike index for the control shoe condition. The results of the foot strike index also show that the center of pressure during contact for the control shoe condition was located more anteriorly. The results of the experiment showed that the shoe type did not affect concentric work at the ankle. “In contrast to the ankle joint, knee peak moment, angular impulse, and cumulative impulse were significantly lower in the minimalist shoe.” The results also showed that running with a reduced stride length was associated with a decrease of loading at the ankle and knee joint. (Firminger, and Edwards 2016) Comparing this article’s results to the main article’s results is slightly difficult because there are not that many similarities. The experiments that were conducted had different objectives, which lead to different results being reported. One similarity that can be drawn from both articles results has to do with foot striking, heel position, and the center of pressure. The main article’s results show that during a minimalist or barefoot running condition the heel will be better located over the center of pressure compared to a shod condition. This article’s results are similar because under the shod condition the center of pressure during contact was located more anteriorly.
stride frequency are also affected by footwear and velocity. Even though the articles findings are not for the same thing, what affects them and how is very similar. Both articles found that during barefoot running the stride length and stride duration were shortened, which leads to an increase of stride frequency. Each article credits this effect to the foot strike pattern. Both McCallion and Francis, acknowledge that during barefoot running the location of the heel is located over the center of mass, which causes the decrease in stride length and stride duration and an increase in stride frequency. The second article investigated the influence of shoe cushioning on the knee and ankle kinematics of distance runners. The results of this article show that the uncushioned minimalist shoe, the cushioned minimalist shoe, and the standard running shoe had a significant influence on ankle angles, stride frequency, and step length. During this experiment the each condition was tested at three different velocities, and the results show that the ankle angles had a significant difference between all shoe conditions for each velocity except when comparing the cushioned minimalist and standard shoe conditions. There were also different rates of rear-foot strikes for the different footwear conditions. The results show that the standard running shoe had the highest rate of rear-foot strikes, followed by the cushioned minimalist shoe, the uncushioned minimalist shoe, and barefoot conditions. While running barefoot the subjects took the smallest steps and had the highest stride frequency. While the standard running shoe led to the highest step length and smallest stride frequency. (Hollander, Argubi-Wollesen, Reer, and Zech, 2015) Comparing the results of this article to the main articles results is somewhat difficult because there are not as many similarities. Even though the studies were conducted in a similar manner their objectives were different. One similarity the two articles have is ankle angle. Both articles observed the difference in ankle angles under each condition and velocity while conducting their experiments. The main articles result showed that the difference in ankle angle for the shod condition was 2°, and the difference for the barefoot condition was -5°. Where this articles results showed that the difference in the ankle angle for the combined footwear conditions was less than 0.001°, and the difference for the combined footwear conditions and velocities was 0.026°. Another similarity the two articles have is the results for step length and stride frequency. Both articles find that barefoot running results in the smallest steps while having the highest stride frequency, and that when running in the standard running shoe it results to the highest step lengths while having the smallest stride frequency. The objective of the third article was “to examine the effects of a 6-week training program of simulated barefoot running on running kinetics in habitually shod female recreational runners.” The results of this study showed a significant difference between foot-striking patterns in both the shod running and the simulated barefoot running. The results for the spatiotemporal variables; stride length, stride frequency, step time, contact time, and flight time was found to be significantly different between the shod running condition and the simulated barefoot running condition. “The stride length was significantly lower during the simulated barefoot running condition compared to the shod condition.” The results for stride frequency showed that it was significantly greater in the simulated barefoot running condition than in the shod running condition. Both of these results caused a decrease in step time when running barefoot. (Khowailed, 2015) The results of this article when compared to the main articles results show many similarities. The first similarity is the difference in the foot striking patterns, and where the heel is located. Khowailed and Francis both find that during barefoot running the heel is better located over the center of mass, which cause less heel striking while running. They find that during shod running the heel is not located over the center of mass, and this cause more heel striking while running. Another similarity between the two articles is the spatiotemporal variables results. Each experiment’s results showed that barefoot running decreases stride length, increases stride frequency, and decreases step time. Their results also showed that during shod running conditions stride length was increased and stride frequency was decreased. The fourth article examined the changes in foot strike pattern in footwear and speed. Fredericks, “Our study reveals that foot strike pattern changes with footwear, but not with speed.” The results show that there was less rear foot striking with minimalist running shoes, and this helps reduce impact forces without shoe cushioning. The results indicate that if speed is increased while under the traditional running shoe condition there will be an increase in step length, but if speed is increased while under the minimalist shoe or barefoot condition there will be a decrease in step length. The reduced stride length that occurs under the minimalist shoe and barefoot conditions allows for reduction in ground reaction forces. (Fredericks, Swank, Teisberg, Hampton, Ridpath, and Hanna, 2015) Similar to the previous three articles when comparing this articles results to the main article’s results many similarities are found.
One similarity is that foot strike patterns only changed in footwear, speed had little to no effect on foot strike pattern. Another similarity is what occurred when speed was increased under each condition. Both Fredericks and Francis found that an increase in speed under a shod condition will cause an increase in step length, and that an increase in speed under a barefoot condition will cause a decrease in step length. Both of the articles results show that a decrease in step length under the barefoot condition will also lead to an increase in stride frequency, and the mechanics behind this condition reduce the ground reaction forces and the risk of injury for these
runners. The objective of the fifth article was to determine the effect shoe type has on stride length reduction on lower-extremity running mechanics and cumulative loading. The statistical results showed that the shoes mainly effected stride length only. The results also show that the minimalist shoe condition’s foot strike index was significantly greater compared to the foot strike index for the control shoe condition. The results of the foot strike index also show that the center of pressure during contact for the control shoe condition was located more anteriorly. The results of the experiment showed that the shoe type did not affect concentric work at the ankle. “In contrast to the ankle joint, knee peak moment, angular impulse, and cumulative impulse were significantly lower in the minimalist shoe.” The results also showed that running with a reduced stride length was associated with a decrease of loading at the ankle and knee joint. (Firminger, and Edwards 2016) Comparing this article’s results to the main article’s results is slightly difficult because there are not that many similarities. The experiments that were conducted had different objectives, which lead to different results being reported. One similarity that can be drawn from both articles results has to do with foot striking, heel position, and the center of pressure. The main article’s results show that during a minimalist or barefoot running condition the heel will be better located over the center of pressure compared to a shod condition. This article’s results are similar because under the shod condition the center of pressure during contact was located more anteriorly.