Michael Ryan1, Maha Elashi2, Richard Newsham-West1, Jack Taunton2. 1. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia. 2. Division of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examines the effect of progressive increases in footwear minimalism on injury incidence and pain perception in recreational runners. METHODS:One hundred and three runners with neutral or mild pronation were randomly assigned a neutral (Nike Pegasus 28), partial minimalist (Nike Free 3.0 V2) or full minimalist shoe (Vibram 5-Finger Bikila). Runners underwent baseline testing to record training and injury history, as well as selected anthropometric measurements, before starting a 12-week training programme in preparation for a 10 km event. Outcome measures included number of injury events, Foot and Ankle Disability (FADI) scores and visual analogue scale pain rating scales for regional and overall pain with running. RESULTS:99 runners were included in final analysis with 23 injuries reported; the neutral shoe reporting the fewest injuries (4) and the partial minimalist shoe (12) the most. The partial minimalist shoe reported a significantly higher rate of injury incidence throughout the 12-week period. Runners in the full minimalist group reported greater shin and calf pain. CONCLUSIONS: Running in minimalist footwear appears to increase the likelihood of experiencing an injury, with full minimalist designs specifically increasing pain at the shin and calf. Clinicians should exercise caution when recommending minimalist footwear to runners otherwise new to this footwear category who are preparing for a 10 km event. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: This study examines the effect of progressive increases in footwear minimalism on injury incidence and pain perception in recreational runners. METHODS: One hundred and three runners with neutral or mild pronation were randomly assigned a neutral (Nike Pegasus 28), partial minimalist (Nike Free 3.0 V2) or full minimalist shoe (Vibram 5-Finger Bikila). Runners underwent baseline testing to record training and injury history, as well as selected anthropometric measurements, before starting a 12-week training programme in preparation for a 10 km event. Outcome measures included number of injury events, Foot and Ankle Disability (FADI) scores and visual analogue scale pain rating scales for regional and overall pain with running. RESULTS: 99 runners were included in final analysis with 23 injuries reported; the neutral shoe reporting the fewest injuries (4) and the partial minimalist shoe (12) the most. The partial minimalist shoe reported a significantly higher rate of injury incidence throughout the 12-week period. Runners in the full minimalist group reported greater shin and calfpain. CONCLUSIONS: Running in minimalist footwear appears to increase the likelihood of experiencing an injury, with full minimalist designs specifically increasing pain at the shin and calf. Clinicians should exercise caution when recommending minimalist footwear to runners otherwise new to this footwear category who are preparing for a 10 km event. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Authors: Joel T Fuller; Jonathan D Buckley; Margarita D Tsiros; Nicholas A T Brown; Dominic Thewlis Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2016-11-11 Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: Nicola Relph; Henrike Greaves; Ross Armstrong; Trevor D Prior; Sally Spencer; Ian B Griffiths; Paola Dey; Ben Langley Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2022-08-22
Authors: Joel T Fuller; Dominic Thewlis; Margarita D Tsiros; Nicholas A T Brown; Jonathan D Buckley Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-08-21 Impact factor: 2.692