The effects of foot strike on running economy in distance runners

NewsBot · Jul 19, 2016

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The effects of foot strike on running economy in distance runners: a narrative review
Robin Nichols, Courtney Germano, Morgan Burke, Kayley Nolan, Kim Youngs-Grand & Joe Girard
Physical Therapy Reviews 14 Jul 2016

Background: Successful distance runners usually demonstrate efficient running economy. Running economy is comprised of many variables, including foot-strike pattern. It is unknown if foot strike pattern has any effect on running economy.
Objective: The purpose of this narrative review is to examine recent evidence on the effect of foot strike on running economy in distance runners.
Methods: This narrative review indexed the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, SportsDiscus, and PubMed. Articles were included if the study examined correlations or relationships between foot strike pattern and running economy.
Results: Five articles satisfied the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. Results examining the effect of foot strike on running economy were varied. Two studies demonstrated a significant effect of foot strike on running economy: One study found that midfoot and forefoot strikers were found to have better running economy compared to rear foot strikers (p = 0.019). Another study showed that rear foot strikers demonstrated superior running economy with 5.4% and 9.3% lower VO2 (p < 0.05) at 11 km/h and 13 km/h, respectively. Three studies showed no significant effect of foot strike on running economy. Conclusion: The reviewed studies collectively suggest that foot strike pattern alone is not a determinant of running economy. Further research is needed to discover what particular role or advantages individual foot strike patterns may have on running economy and what other factors and characteristics correlate with running economy and performance.
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Admin2 · Jul 19, 2016

Related Topics:
Running economy in shoes vs barefoot
The relationship between running economy and biomechanical variables in distance runners
Heel-Striking Running is More Energy Efficient Than Midfoot-Striking Running
Running biomechanics: shorter heels, better economy

Craig Payne · Jul 19, 2016

NewsBot said: ↑

The effects of foot strike on running economy in distance runners: a narrative review
Robin Nichols, Courtney Germano, Morgan Burke, Kayley Nolan, Kim Youngs-Grand & Joe Girard
Physical Therapy Reviews 14 Jul 2016
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I blogged about this review here.

There have been many studies on this topic and if you are promoting a particular agenda or narrative you can cherry pick a group of studies to make your point and hope your ?audience? are not aware of a body of literature that contradicts your agenda or narrative. Lots of people do just that. Of course, that approach is an epic fail.
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Ian Drakard · Jul 20, 2016

anyone got full text please?

NewsBot · Dec 10, 2016

Joint stiffness and running economy during imposed forefoot strike before and after a long run in rearfoot strike runners
Daniel A. Melcher, Max R. Paquette, Brian K. Schilling & Richard J. Bloomer
Journal of Sports Sciences; 09 Dec 2016

Research has focused on the effects of acute strike pattern modifications on lower extremity joint stiffness and running economy (RE). Strike pattern modifications on running biomechanics have mostly been studied while runners complete short running bouts. This study examined the effects of an imposed forefoot strike (FFS) on RE and ankle and knee joint stiffness before and after a long run in habitual rearfoot strike (RFS) runners. Joint kinetics and RE were collected before and after a long run. Sagittal joint kinetics were computed from kinematic and ground reaction force data that were collected during over-ground running trials in 13 male runners. RE was measured during treadmill running. Knee flexion range of motion, knee extensor moment and ankle joint stiffness were lower while plantarflexor moment and knee joint stiffness were greater during imposed FFS compared with RFS. The long run did not influence the difference in ankle and knee joint stiffness between strike patterns. Runners were more economical during RFS than imposed FFS and RE was not influenced by the long run. These findings suggest that using a FFS pattern towards the end of a long run may not be mechanically or metabolically beneficial for well-trained male RFS runners.
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mike weber · Dec 11, 2016

These findings suggest that using a FFS pattern towards the end of a long run may not be mechanically or metabolically beneficial for well-trained male RFS runners.
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Generally speaking it is always best to let the body choose it´s own mechanical pathway, Generally speaking it will be the most efficient for the given activity . Probably not 1st time but after a period of practice/or doing

NewsBot · Nov 4, 2017

Gait Retraining From Rearfoot Strike to Forefoot Strike does not change Running Economy.
Roper JL et al
Int J Sports Med. 2017 Nov 3. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-110225

Gait retraining is a method for management of patellofemoral pain, which is a common ailment among recreational runners. The present study investigated the effects of gait retraining from rearfoot strike to forefoot strike on running economy, heart rate, and respiratory exchange ratio immediately post-retraining and one-month post-retraining in recreational runners with patellofemoral pain. Knee pain was also measured. Sixteen participants (n=16) were randomly placed in the control (n=8) or experimental (n=8) group. A 10-minute treadmill RE test was performed by all subjects. The experimental group performed eight gait retraining running sessions where foot strike pattern was switched from rearfoot strike to forefoot strike, while the control group received no intervention. There were no significant differences for running economy (p=0.26), respiratory exchange ratio (p=0.258), or heart rate (p=0.248) between the groups. Knee pain reported on a visual analog scale was also significantly reduced (p<0.05) as a result of retraining. The present study demonstrates that retraining from rearfoot strike to forefoot strike did not affect running economy up to one-month post-retraining while reducing running-related patellofemoral pain.
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NewsBot · Nov 12, 2019

Habitual foot strike pattern does not affect simulated Triceps Surae muscle metabolic energy consumption during running.
Swinnen W et al
J Exp Biol. 2019 Nov 8

Foot strike pattern affects ankle joint work and Triceps Surae muscle-tendon dynamics during running. Whether these changes in muscle-tendon dynamics also affect Triceps Surae muscle energy consumption is still unknown. In addition, as the Triceps Surae muscle accounts for a substantial amount of the whole body metabolic energy consumption, changes in Triceps Surae energy consumption may affect whole body metabolic energy consumption. However, direct measurements of muscle metabolic energy consumption during dynamic movements is hard. Model-based approaches can be used to estimate individual muscle and whole body metabolic energy consumption based on Hill type muscle models. In this study, we use an integrated experimental and dynamic optimization approach to compute muscle states (muscle forces, lengths, velocities, excitations and activations) of 10 habitual mid-/forefoot striking and 9 habitual rearfoot striking runners while running at 10 and 14 km/h. The Achilles tendon stiffness of the musculoskeletal model was adapted to fit experimental ultrasound data of the Gastrocnemius medialis muscle during ground contact. Next, we calculated Triceps Surae muscle and whole body metabolic energy consumption using four different metabolic energy models provided in literature. Neither Triceps Surae metabolic energy consumption (p>0.35), nor whole body metabolic energy consumption (p>0.14) was different between foot strike patterns, regardless of the energy model used or running speed tested. Our results provide new evidence that mid-/forefoot and rearfoot strike pattern are metabolically equivalent.
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NewsBot · Jan 15, 2020

Effects of foot strike pattern and foot arch on leg stiffness in running
Tan, Jebsen
Source

Running is a very common type of physical activity. Runners typically run using a fore foot or heel strike pattern, either subconsciously or consciously. Individual’s foot arch also plays a vital role in running as the foot is known to absorb impact from the contact between the foot and the ground during the run. However, little is known about the relationship between the foot arch and the foot strike pattern and whether it has any impact on the lower limb kinematic variables. The main aim of this research was to find out if different foot arch affects leg stiffness and other lower limb variables when using forefoot or heel strike pattern in running. 23 male and female participants were recruited and screened for their foot arch (6 high arch and 17 low arch) using a plantar pedography platform to determine their arch height index (AHI), the navicular drop test and calcaneal stance position test. Participants then went through 2 running trials on an instrumented treadmill using forefoot strike and heel strike running pattern. Their leg stiffness, vertical stiffness, loading rate and max peak force were then calculated. No signification interaction was found between foot strike pattern and foot arch level for leg stiffness(p ≤ 0.74) and vertical stiffness(p ≤ 0.33) while a significant but minimal effect was found for max peak force(p ≤ 0.04, Ƞ² = 0.19) and loading rate(p ≤ 0.04, Ƞ² = 0.19). Therefore, individual should not need to be overly concerned about performance or injury rate in running regardless of their foot arch
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