Foot strengthening and running mechanics

NewsBot · Jan 14, 2020

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Effects of a foot strengthening program on foot muscle morphology and running mechanics: A proof-of-concept, single-blind randomized controlled trial
Ulisses T.Taddei et al
Physical Therapy in Sport; 13 January 2020

Highlights
•8-weeks of foot exercises increased the intrinsic foot muscles volumes up to 22.3%.
•Strengthening the intrinsic foot muscles positively affected running biomechanics.
•Running vertical propulsive impulses increased after the intervention in runners.
•Foot arch stiffness and motion did not change after the intervention.
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Objectives
To investigate the effects of a foot training program on muscle morphology and strength as well as running biomechanics in healthy recreational runners.

Design
Proof-of-concept, single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Settings
Runners were allocated to a control (CG) or an intervention (IG) group. The intervention focused on strengthening the intrinsic foot muscles and their activation during weight-bearing activities. All participants were assessed at baseline and after 8-weeks.

Participants
Twenty-eight healthy recreational long-distance runners not habituated to minimalist running shoes or barefoot running.

Main outcomes measures
Outcomes were hallux and toes strength; foot function, cross-sectional area and volume of the abductor hallucis (ABH), abductor digiti minimi (ABV), flexor digitorum brevis (FDB), and flexor hallucis brevis; medial longitudinal arch range of motion and stiffness; vertical and antero-posterior propulsive impulses during running.

Results
Compared to the CG, an increase was found in the IG for the volume of all muscles investigated and for vertical propulsive impulse during running. Correlations were found between vertical propulsive impulse and volume of ABH(r = 0.40), ABV(r = 0.41), and FDB(r = 0.69).

Conclusion
The foot exercise protocol effectively increased intrinsic foot muscle volume and propulsive forces in recreational runners. This shows that intrinsic muscle strengthening affects running mechanics and suggests that it may improve running performance.
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NewsBot · Jan 14, 2020

Related threads:
Midfoot Angle Changes During Running After an 8-week Foot Strengthening Program
Effects of Foot Strengthening on the Prevalence of Injuries in Long Distance Runners

Craig Payne · Jan 14, 2020

NewsBot said: ↑

Effects of a foot strengthening program on foot muscle morphology and running mechanics: A proof-of-concept, single-blind randomized controlled trial
Ulisses T.Taddei et al
Physical Therapy in Sport; 13 January 2020
Click to expand...

According to the registered protocol for this study they were including injury incidence. They did not report that. I wonder why?
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02306148

Craig Payne · Jan 14, 2020

Craig Payne said: ↑

According to the registered protocol for this study they were including injury incidence. They did not report that. I wonder why?
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02306148
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OK, that why. The initial 8 weeks is being reported here. There is still teh 10 month follow up to come.

NewsBot · Jan 15, 2020

Functional assessments of foot strength: a comparative and repeatability study
Dustin A. BrueningSarah T. RidgeJulia L. JacobsMark T. OlsenDallin W. GriffinDrew H. FergusonKirk E. BassettA. Wayne Johnson
14 December 2019

Background
Evaluating the strength of the small muscles of the foot may be useful in a variety of clinical applications but is challenging from a methodology standpoint. Previous efforts have focused primarily on the functional movement of toe flexion, but clear methodology guidelines are lacking. A novel foot doming test has also been proposed, but not fully evaluated. The purposes of the present study were to assess the repeatability and comparability of several functional foot strength assessment techniques.

Methods
Forty healthy volunteers were evaluated across two testing days, with a two-week doming motion practice period between them. Seven different measurements were taken using a custom toe flexion dynamometer (seated), custom doming dynamometer (standing), and a pressure mat (standing). Measurements from the doming dynamometer were evaluated for reliability (ICCs) and a learning effect (paired t-tests), while measurements from the toe flexion dynamometer and pressure mat were evaluated for reliability and comparability (correlations). Electromyography was also used to descriptively assess the extent of muscle isolation in all measurements.

Results
Doming showed excellent within-session reliability (ICCs > 0.944), but a clear learning effect was present, with strength (p < 0.001) and muscle activity increasing between sessions. Both intrinsic and extrinsic muscles were engaged during this test. All toe flexion tests also showed excellent reliability (ICCs > 0.945). Seated toe flexion tests using the dynamometer were moderately correlated to standing toe flexion tests on a pressure mat (r > 0.54); however, there were some differences in muscle activity. The former may better isolate the toe flexors, while the latter appeared to be more functional for many pathologies. On the pressure mat, reciprocal motion appeared to display slightly greater forces and reliability than isolated toe flexion.

Conclusions
This study further refines potential methodology for foot strength testing. These devices and protocols can be duplicated in the clinic to evaluate and monitor rehabilitation progress in clinical populations associated with foot muscle weakness.
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scotfoot · Jan 19, 2020

Very interesting results from Taddei et al . The results show no significant strengthening effect but significant increase in intrinsic muscle volume . Improvements in foot function were correlated to increase in intrinsic muscle volume .
This teaches towards the idea that intrinsic foot muscle volume as well as
strength , is important to foot function .

NewsBot · Jul 11, 2020

Foot Muscle Strengthening and Lower Limb Injury Prevention
Carla van der Merwe et al
Res Q Exerc Sport. 2020 Jul 7;1-8

Background and objectives: The active and passive structures of the foot act in unison to not only be compliant enough to assist in ground reaction force attenuation but also resist deformation to provide a stable base of support. A foot that is unable to adjust to the imposed demands during high-intensity sporting activities may alter the moments and forces acting on the joints, increasing the risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament ruptures (ACLR) and lateral ankle sprains (LAS). Prophylactic strengthening programs are often used to reduce the risk of these injuries, but at present, very few prophylactic programs include foot-specific strengthening strategies. The aim of this theoretical review is to ascertain the prophylactic role strengthening muscles acting on the foot may have on ACLR and LAS injury risk. Methods: Literature relating to risk factors associated with ACLR and LAS injury and the anatomy and biomechanics of normal foot function was searched. In addition, ACLR and LAS injury prevention programs were also sought. A theoretical, narrative approach was followed to synthesize the information gathered from the articles. Results: The foot segments are governed by the congruity of the articulations and the activity of the foot muscles. As such, there is a coupling effect between shank, calcaneus, midfoot, and hallux movement which play a role in both ACLR and LAS injury risk. Conclusions: Strengthening the muscles acting on the foot may have a significant impact on ACLR and LAS injury risk.
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NewsBot · Jun 21, 2022

Evidence of Intrinsic Foot Muscle Training in Improving Foot Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Abbis Jaffri et al
J Athl Train. 2022 Jun 20.

Objective: To critically assess the literature focused on strength training of the intrinsic foot muscles (IFM) and resulting improvements in foot function.

Data sources: A search of electronic databases PubMed, CINHAL, Scopus, and SPORT Discus was completed between January 2000 to March 2022.

Study selection: Randomized control trials (RCTs) with an outcome of interest with at least two weeks of IFM exercise intervention were included. Outcomes of interest were broadly divided in to five categories of foot posture (navicular drop (ND) and Foot Posture Index (FPI)), balance, strength, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), sensory function, and motor performance. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies with two independent reviewers rating each study. Studies with a PEDro score greater than 4/10 were included.

Data extraction: Data from the included studies were extracted by two independent reviewers. These data included design, participant characteristics, inclusion and exclusion criteria, type of intervention, outcomes, and the primary results. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to analyze difference between intervention and control groups for each outcome when there were at least two studies. Standardized mean differences (SMD) describe effect size with a 95% confidence interval (SMD range). When the confidence interval crossed zero the effect was not significant.

Data synthesis: Thirteen studies were included and IFM exercise interventions were associated with decreasing ND (SMD range=0.37,1.83), and FPI (SMD range=1.03,1.69), improving balance (SMD range=0.18,1.86), strength (SMD range=0.06,1.52) and PROs for disability (SMD range=0.12,1.00) with pooled effect sizes favoring IFM intervention over control. There was no superiority of IFM exercises (SMD range=-0.15,0.66) seen in reducing pain. We could not perform meta-analysis for sensory function and motor performance as there was only study reporting each outcome, however, these results supported the use of IFM strength training.

Conclusion: IFM strength training is helpful for patients in improving foot and ankle outcomes.
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scotfoot Well-Known Member

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