The purposes of this prospective study were to determine the association among foot type, initial foot-floor contact pattern and the incidence of overuse lower leg injury in the long distance runners. Sixty healthy volunteers (43 females and 17 males with mean age of 31 years) were recruited from participants of an annual 7-month long marathon training program. The foot types of subjects were classified by Chippaux-Smirak arch index obtained from the foot print. Running characteristics and initial foot-floor contact pattern were recorded by a footswitch stride analyzer and insole footswitches with a split heel design. Injury data was collected throughout the training period. The results show that the foot arch type is associated with the pattern of initial foot-floor contact (p=.036). The proportion of lateral heel strikers was largest in subjects with high arched feet and lowest in those with low arched feet. A significant association between foot-floor contact patterns and injury was detected (p<0.006). Forefoot strikers are more likely to sustain overuse lower leg injury than rear foot strikers. Our findings support the long held suspicion that forefoot initial contact pattern is not an appropriate running style for long distance runners. People engaged in long distance running should avoid forefoot striking pattern.
The purposes of this prospective study were to determine the association among foot type, initial foot-floor contact pattern and the incidence of overuse lower leg injury in the long distance runners. Sixty healthy volunteers (43 females and 17 males with mean age of 31 years) were recruited from participants of an annual 7-month long marathon training program. The foot types of subjects were classified by Chippaux-Smirak arch index obtained from the foot print. Running characteristics and initial foot-floor contact pattern were recorded by a footswitch stride analyzer and insole footswitches with a split heel design. Injury data was collected throughout the training period. The results show that the foot arch type is associated with the pattern of initial foot-floor contact (p=.036). The proportion of lateral heel strikers was largest in subjects with high arched feet and lowest in those with low arched feet. A significant association between foot-floor contact patterns and injury was detected (p<0.006). Forefoot strikers are more likely to sustain overuse lower leg injury than rear foot strikers. Our findings support the long held suspicion that forefoot initial contact pattern is not an appropriate running style for long distance runners. People engaged in long distance running should avoid forefoot striking pattern.