Influence of Footwear Selection on Youth Running Biomechanics: A Pilot Study.

2023  Journal Article

Influence of Footwear Selection on Youth Running Biomechanics: A Pilot Study.

Pub TLDR

This research study of 14 active male youth (8-12 years old) found that running barefoot or in minimal shoes significantly increased average vertical loading rates (AVLR) and altered lower extremity kinematics compared to traditional shoes. Clinicians should be cautious when transitioning young, habitually shod runners to barefoot or minimal shoe running due to the immediate and dramatic increases in AVLRs, which have been associated with injury.

DOI: 10.1177/19417381231215070    PubMed ID: 38073161
 

College of Health researcher(s)

Abstract

Background

The relationship of running biomechanics, footwear, and injury has been studied extensively in adults. There has been little research on the effects of footwear on running biomechanics in youth.

Hypothesis

Running biomechanics of youth will be significantly affected by changes in footwear. Minimal shoe running will demonstrate similarities to barefoot.

Study design

Crossover study design: randomized trial.

Level of evidence

Level 2.

Methods

A total of 14 active male youth (8-12 years old) participants with no previous exposure to minimalist shoes or barefoot running had running biomechanics (lower extremity sagittal plane kinematics and vertical ground reaction forces [vGRFs]) collected and analyzed in 3 footwear conditions (barefoot, traditional, and minimal shoe).

Results

The average vertical loading rate (AVLR) was significantly greater running barefoot (173.86 bodyweights per second [BW/s]) and in the minimal shoe (138.71 BW/s) compared with the traditional shoe (78.06 BW/s), (P < 0.01). There were significant differences between shoe conditions for knee flexion at initial contact (P < 0.01), knee sagittal plane excursion (P < 0.01), peak dorsiflexion (P < 0.01), and dorsiflexion at initial contact (P = 0.03). No participants displayed a forefoot-strike during this study.

Conclusion

The introduction of barefoot and minimalist running in habitually shod youth significantly affected the running biomechanics of youth and caused immediate alterations in both lower extremity kinematics and vGRFs. Running barefoot or in minimal shoes dramatically increased the AVLR, which has been associated with injury, compared with a traditional shoe.

Clinical relevance

This study evaluated the effects of footwear on overground running biomechanics, including AVLR, in pre- and early-adolescent youth males. Based on our findings, clinicians should exercise caution in barefoot or minimal shoe transition among young, habitually shod, runners due to the immediate and dramatic increases in AVLRs.

Traut, A.G., Hannigan, J.J., Ter Har, J.A., Pollard, C.D. (2023) Influence of Footwear Selection on Youth Running Biomechanics: A Pilot Study.Sports Health