Forefoot bending stiffness and running

NewsBot · Jun 10, 2016

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The influence of forefoot bending stiffness of footwear on athletic injury and performance
Darren J. Stefanyshyn & John W. Wannop
Footwear Science; in press

Forefoot bending stiffness is a footwear property that has recently been gaining interest despite previously receiving limited attention compared to other footwear characteristics. This review focuses on relevant research studies examining the influence of forefoot bending stiffness on reducing injury and optimizing performance. Discussion of the current limitations and need for future research within the realm of forefoot bending stiffness is also highlighted. By reducing the amount of metatarsophalangeal extension, increased bending stiffness could not only reduce injury risk (e.g. turf-toe), but also serve as a treatment for metatarsal stress fractures by offloading the metatarsals. However, there are surprisingly limited in-depth studies examining how altered forefoot bending stiffness influences injury. Many unknown factors still need to be studied including the appropriate magnitude of bending stiffness and the influence that altering forefoot bending stiffness may have on the injury risk of other joints such as the ankle and knee. Forefoot bending stiffness can influence performance; however, the exact mechanism remains unclear. Early studies focused on foot energetics, while recent studies have shown the importance of altering the movement of the centre of pressure under the foot and the gearing ratio at the ankle joint. There appears to be a specific amount of forefoot bending stiffness for optimal performance. Future research should focus on identifying the exact mechanism of performance improvement with modified bending stiffness to help determine how this optimal stiffness can be identified.
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NewsBot · Jun 10, 2016

Forefoot bending stiffness, running economy and kinematics during overground running
Ryan Madden, Masanori Sakaguchi, Elias K. Tomaras, John W. Wannop & Darren Stefanyshyn
Footwear Science; in press

Previous research has shown that altering forefoot (FF) bending stiffness can enhance running economy; however, the mechanism behind the changes in running economy remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between forefoot bending stiffness, running economy, and lower limb kinematics during overground running. Eighteen aerobically fit recreational male athletes performed overground running using a portable metabolic analysis system to measure oxygen consumption in two footwear conditions with different forefoot bending stiffness. Sagittal plane kinematic data of the metatarsophalangeal, ankle, and knee joints were recorded using a high-speed camera. On average, there was no difference in running economy when running in the Stiff shoe (O2 = 38.1 ? 5.4 mL/kg/min) compared to the Control shoe (O2 = 37.7 ? 5.8 mL/kg/min, p = 0.11). On an individual basis, 10 athletes (Responders) improved their running economy with increased FF bending stiffness (∆O2 = −2.9%), while eight athletes (Non-Responders) worsened or did not improve their running economy in a stiff shoe (∆O2 = +1.0%). In stiff footwear, Responders experienced kinematic changes at the ankle joint (decreased angular velocity) that likely resulted in decreased energy requirement for muscular contractions due to a presumed shift on their individual force–velocity relationship. The lack of improvement in running economy by the Non-Responders may be attributed to a presumed lack of a shift in the force–velocity relationship of the calf musculature. Instead, Non-Responders experienced kinematic changes (increased ankle plantarflexion during push phase with stiff footwear) that likely hindered their moment-generating capability potentially due to a shift on their individual force–length relationship. These findings represent important progress towards explaining inter-individual changes in running economy with different footwear bending stiffness.
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Admin2 · Jun 10, 2016

Related topics:
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NewsBot · Jul 14, 2017

The influence of gearing footwear on running biomechanics
John William Wannop ORCID Icon, Anthony Killick, Ryan Madden & Darren J Stefanyshyn
Footwear Science: 13 Jul 2017

The influence of nonlinear bending stiffness footwear, which alters the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint bending as a function of forefoot bending stiffness, has been postulated to improve athletic performance and reduce injury risk during many sports. As the shoe moves through greater amounts of bending, forefoot stiffness should increase nonlinearly, to shift the centre of pressure forward (improving performance), while restricting forefoot bending in regions where turf toe injury may result. Recently, materials which allow for stiffness modifications as a function of forefoot flexion angle have been developed; however, the efficacy of this technology is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to evaluate the influence of gearing technology (a variable bending stiffness shoe) on biomechanics during running and sprinting. Ten male recreational athletes performed running and sprinting in two footwear conditions consisting of an altered US 10 adidas 16.4 FXG cleat. The footwear was altered by placing carbon fibre insoles with variable (nonlinear stiffness) into the shoes creating two different conditions: Control (no insole) and the variable stiffness (varStiff) shoe (gearing insoles). Kinematic (joint angles) and kinetic (ground reaction force and 3D joint moments) data of the lower extremity were recorded during each movement. The results of the study indicate that the variable stiffness insoles did positively influence athlete lower extremity biomechanics. At the MTP joint, as running speed increased (and normal MTP bending range of motion increased), the variable stiffness insoles reduced the amount of MTP bending of the shoes and reduced the medial–lateral movement of the point of force application. Additionally, the variable stiffness insoles reduced key biomechanical injury risk variables, such as non-sagittal plane joint loading at the knee and ankle joint.
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