Eight weeks gait retraining in minimalist footwear has no effect on running economy

Joe P. Warne, Kieran A. Moran, Giles D. Warrington

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of an eight week combined minimalist footwear (MFW) and gait-retraining intervention on running economy (RE) and kinematics in conventional footwear runners. Methods: Twenty-three trained male runners (age: 43±10years, stature: 177.2±9.2cm, body mass: 72.8±10.2kg, V˙O2max: 56.5±7.0mLmin-1kg-1) were recruited. Participants were assigned to either an intervention group (n=13) who gradually increased exposure to MFW and also implemented gait-retraining over an eight week period. RE and kinematics were measured in both MFW and conventional running shoes (CRS) at pre-tests and eight weeks, in a random order. In contrast the control group (n=10) had no MFW exposure or gait retraining and were only tested in CRS. Results: The MFW and gait re-training intervention had no effect on RE (p<. .001). However, RE was significantly better in MFW (mean difference 2.72%; p= .002) at both pre and post-tests compared to CRS. Step frequency increased as a result of the intervention (+5.7 steps per minute [spm]; p<. .001), and was also significantly higher in MFW vs. CRS (+7.5. spm; p<. .001). Conclusion: Whilst a better RE in MFW was observed when compared to CRS due to shoe mass, familiarization to MFW with gait-retraining was not found to influence RE.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-192
Number of pages10
JournalHuman Movement Science
Volume42
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Barefoot running
  • Footwear
  • Performance
  • Running technique

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