Biomechanical comparison between barefoot and running shoe conditions during running movements executed by flat feet patients

Primary author: Hamidreza Barnamehei

Primary college/unit: College of Veterinary Medicine
Category: Engineering and Environmental Science
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

The goal of the current study was to compare the barefoot and running shoe conditions during running executed by flat feet patients. Based on the assumption that running with shoes represents an excellent condition for improvement.
Sixteen flat feet subject (23.2 ± 1.1 years; 68 ± 7.5 kg; 169 ± 7 cm) participated. Motion data were collected, and biomechanical parameters were determined by dynamics equations. Statistical analysis t-test was used to evaluated differences between and shoe conditions barefoot or shod (p < 0.05).
It was found that the range of motion increased in the shoe running (27.01°) compared to the barefoot running (24.15°, p <0.05). Differences between barefoot and shoe conditions were significant at the knee during late stance and swing phase; at the ankle early stance, mid-stance and swing phase just in the sagittal plane. Significant differences were also found at the ankle moments during early stance and knee moment during early stance in the sagittal plane. Although, we found significant differences in the sagittal plane between the knee and ankle joints. Therefore, these results show these differences affect the delay in knee extension and ankle plantarflexion during late stance.
The current study presents that running shoes do not change foot movements as much as conventional shoes and consequently should be recommended not only for flat feet patients but for healthy people in general. Therefore, the findings of the current study are helpful to flat feet patients to finding the effects of running shoe and barefoot conditions on running.