The study investigates the effects of footwear type (traditional vs. minimalist shoes) and stride length (preferred vs. 90% preferred) on metatarsal strains and the probability of stress fractures in recreational runners. Fourteen male participants ran under different conditions while motion capture and plantar pressure data were collected.
Key findings include:
- Footwear Impact: Transitioning to minimalist shoes significantly increased metatarsal strains by 28.7% and the probability of failure for metatarsals 2-4 by 17.3%. Traditional shoes resulted in lower strains and failure probabilities 1, 2.
- Stride Length Effect: A 10% reduction in stride length only decreased strains for the fourth metatarsal by 4.2%, with no significant effect on the overall probability of failure 2, 4.
- Biomechanical Changes: The minimalist footwear led to altered metatarsal angles and increased bending moments, contributing to higher strains.
- Practical Recommendations: The authors suggest that runners should exercise caution when transitioning to minimalist footwear due to increased risk of metatarsal stress fractures. A gradual approach to changing footwear and stride may help mitigate this risk.
The study highlights the need for further investigation into footwear characteristics and their influence on running mechanics and injury risk.