Effects of barefoot training on biomechanical characterstics in runners

Abstract

quotLimited longitudinal studies in scientific literature could be traced that explored the effects of barefoot training with habituation phase on biomechanical characteristics in runners. Furthermore, extensive literature is available on the acute changes of barefoot running in influencing running mechanics. The study investigated the kinematic differences between barefoot and habitually shod runners following 8 weeks of habituation training. It was hypothesized that habituation phase with gradual increments in time spent barefoot would result in better kinematic changes in barefoot runners compared to habitual shod (in-shoe). newlineSixty (N=60) professional runners with mean age of 21.5±2.04 years with standing height measuring 1.69±0.04 meters and weighing 69±3.55 kilograms were selected. Selected participants ran on an Tecnobody Walker View 3.0® instrumented treadmill for 5 minutes at self-selected followed by automatic adjusted speed to capture the biomechanical joint angles under barefoot and in-shoe condition. Group comparisons for joint kinematic changes at trunk, hip, knee and foot were analysed through Independent t-test and paired t test using SPSS Version 22 for IBM. The level of significance was set at plt0.05. newlineResults: The results indicated that the experimental barefoot group showed statistically non significant (p=0.05) changes to trunk flexion-extension during the initial phases of running gait. Barefoot group showed statistically significant changes to hip and knee flexion-extension ranges (p=0.00) following 8 weeks of barefoot training. The hip joint showed a greater excursion of movement with a mean difference of 7.07° in the barefoot group and mean difference of 6.09° in the control shoe group. The major findings of this study reflect upon the effects of barefoot training with a habituation phase to have major changes to power producing joints at hip and knee joints in the barefoot group. No significant differences were found between barefoot and shod participants for any other joints. The transition