The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction

Wes Zimmermann; Naomi van Valderen

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

| Peer-Reviewed

The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction

Wes Zimmermann, Naomi van Valderen

Published in International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education (Volume 6, Issue 1)

Received: 17 February 2021 Accepted: 2 March 2021 Published: 10 March 2021

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The department of Military Sports Medicine of the Royal Netherlands Army has an ongoing research line ‘Exercise-Related Leg Pain’ since 2011. This study investigated which immediate changes occur in running technique while running barefoot or in minimalist running shoes on a treadmill, which proportion of service members automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing without any instruction to do so, and whether these patients experienced a subsequent gait retraining program as easier and completed it faster or with a better clinical outcome. In total, data from 53 patients with exercise-related leg pain were used to answer the research questions. Running barefoot, 24.5% of patients automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing (16.7% of the men, 54.5% of the women), in minimalist shoes the percentage of automatic strike-changers was 5.7% (2,4% of men, 16.2% of women). Running barefoot, the patients used shorter strides and a higher cadence than in traditional running shoes and the vertical ground reaction forces under the midfoot and heel were lower. Automatic strike-changers were not better candidates for the treatment program, in terms of subjective ease of the gait retraining sessions and duration or outcome of the treatment program. Running barefoot is a helpful methodology to facilitate gait retraining.

Published in	International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
Page(s)	1-7
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Exercise-related Leg Pain, Gait Retraining, Landing Patterns, Barefoot Running, Military

References

[1]	Barton CJ, Bonnano DR, Carr J et al. Running retraining to treat lower limb injuries: a mixed-methods study of current evidence synthesized with expert opinion. Br J Sports Med 2016, 50, 513-526.
[2]	Zimmermann WO, Helmhout PH, Beutler AI. Prevention and treatment of exercise related leg pain in young soldiers. A review of the literature and current practice in the Royal Netherlands Armed forces. J R Army Med Corps 2017, 163, 94-103.
[3]	Dijksma I, Bekkers M, Spek B et al. Epidemiology and financial burden of musculoskeletal injuries as the leading health problem in the military. Mil Med 2019, 185, 3-4, e480-e486.
[4]	Davis IS, Rice HM, Wearing SC. Why forefoot striking in minimalist shoes might positively change the course of running injuries. J Sport health Sci 2017, 6, 154-161.
[5]	Zimmermann WO, Bakker EWP. Reducing vertical ground reaction forces: the relative importance of three gait retraining cues. Clin Biom 2019, 69, 16-20.
[6]	Zimmermann WO, van Valderen NRI, Linschoten CW et al. Gait retraining reduces vertical ground reaction forces in running shoes and military boots. Transl Sports Med 2019, 2, 90-97.
[7]	Zimmermann WO, Linschoten CW, Beutler AI. Gait retraining as part of the treatment program for service members with exercise-related leg pain: preliminary clinical experiences and retention. S African J Sports Med 2017, 29.
[8]	Ligthert E, Helmhout PH, van der Wurff P et al. Het onderbeenspreekuur in het Centraal Militair Hospitaal, deel 1. NMGT 2017, 70, 90-98. [Dutch].
[9]	Zimmermann WO, Hutchinson MR, van den Berg RH et al. Conservative treatment of anterior chronic compartment syndrome in the military, with a mid-term follow up. BMJ Open Sport & Exerc Med 2019, 5, e000532. Connors, J., & Levy, J. (2020).
[10]	Paquette MR, Zhang S, Baumgartner LD. Acute effects of barefoot, minimal shoes and running shoes on lower limb mechanics in rear and forefoot strikers. Footwear Science 2013, 5, 1, 9-18.
[11]	Knapik JJ, Orr R, Pope R et al. Injuries and footwear (part 2). J of Special Operations Med 2016, 16, 1, 89-96.
[12]	Williams GN, Gangel TJ, Arciero RA et al. Comparison of the single assessment evaluation method and two shoulder rating scales. Am J Sports Med 1999, 27, 2, 214-221.
[13]	Bonacci J, Saunders PU, Hicks A et al. Running in a minimalist and lightweight shoe is not the same as barefoot: a biomechanical study. Br J Sports med 2013, 47, 387-392.
[14]	Squadrone R, Rodano R, Hamill J et al. Acute effects of different minimalist shoes on foot strike pattern and kinematics in rearfoot strikers during running. Journal of Sports Sciences 2014, 33, 11, 1196-1204.
[15]	Rios-Leon M, Ortega-Santiago R, Madeleine P et al. Topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps of the feet reveal bilateral pain sensitivity in patients with unilateral plantar heel pain. J of Orthop and Sports Phys Ther 2019, 49, 9, 640-646.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Wes Zimmermann, Naomi van Valderen. (2021). The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction. International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education, 6(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Wes Zimmermann; Naomi van Valderen. The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction. Int. J. Sports Sci. Phys. Educ. 2021, 6(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Wes Zimmermann, Naomi van Valderen. The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction. Int J Sports Sci Phys Educ. 2021;6(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11,
  author = {Wes Zimmermann and Naomi van Valderen},
  title = {The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction},
  journal = {International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-7},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsspe.20210601.11},
  abstract = {The department of Military Sports Medicine of the Royal Netherlands Army has an ongoing research line ‘Exercise-Related Leg Pain’ since 2011. This study investigated which immediate changes occur in running technique while running barefoot or in minimalist running shoes on a treadmill, which proportion of service members automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing without any instruction to do so, and whether these patients experienced a subsequent gait retraining program as easier and completed it faster or with a better clinical outcome. In total, data from 53 patients with exercise-related leg pain were used to answer the research questions. Running barefoot, 24.5% of patients automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing (16.7% of the men, 54.5% of the women), in minimalist shoes the percentage of automatic strike-changers was 5.7% (2,4% of men, 16.2% of women). Running barefoot, the patients used shorter strides and a higher cadence than in traditional running shoes and the vertical ground reaction forces under the midfoot and heel were lower. Automatic strike-changers were not better candidates for the treatment program, in terms of subjective ease of the gait retraining sessions and duration or outcome of the treatment program. Running barefoot is a helpful methodology to facilitate gait retraining.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction
AU  - Wes Zimmermann
AU  - Naomi van Valderen
Y1  - 2021/03/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
T2  - International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education
JF  - International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education
JO  - International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1611
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
AB  - The department of Military Sports Medicine of the Royal Netherlands Army has an ongoing research line ‘Exercise-Related Leg Pain’ since 2011. This study investigated which immediate changes occur in running technique while running barefoot or in minimalist running shoes on a treadmill, which proportion of service members automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing without any instruction to do so, and whether these patients experienced a subsequent gait retraining program as easier and completed it faster or with a better clinical outcome. In total, data from 53 patients with exercise-related leg pain were used to answer the research questions. Running barefoot, 24.5% of patients automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing (16.7% of the men, 54.5% of the women), in minimalist shoes the percentage of automatic strike-changers was 5.7% (2,4% of men, 16.2% of women). Running barefoot, the patients used shorter strides and a higher cadence than in traditional running shoes and the vertical ground reaction forces under the midfoot and heel were lower. Automatic strike-changers were not better candidates for the treatment program, in terms of subjective ease of the gait retraining sessions and duration or outcome of the treatment program. Running barefoot is a helpful methodology to facilitate gait retraining.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Wes Zimmermann

Department of Military Sports Medicine, Royal Netherlands Army, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Naomi van Valderen

Department of Military Sports Medicine, Royal Netherlands Army, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Wes Zimmermann, Naomi van Valderen. (2021). The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction. International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education, 6(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Wes Zimmermann; Naomi van Valderen. The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction. Int. J. Sports Sci. Phys. Educ. 2021, 6(1), 1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Wes Zimmermann, Naomi van Valderen. The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction. Int J Sports Sci Phys Educ. 2021;6(1):1-7. doi: 10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11,
  author = {Wes Zimmermann and Naomi van Valderen},
  title = {The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction},
  journal = {International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education},
  volume = {6},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-7},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijsspe.20210601.11},
  abstract = {The department of Military Sports Medicine of the Royal Netherlands Army has an ongoing research line ‘Exercise-Related Leg Pain’ since 2011. This study investigated which immediate changes occur in running technique while running barefoot or in minimalist running shoes on a treadmill, which proportion of service members automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing without any instruction to do so, and whether these patients experienced a subsequent gait retraining program as easier and completed it faster or with a better clinical outcome. In total, data from 53 patients with exercise-related leg pain were used to answer the research questions. Running barefoot, 24.5% of patients automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing (16.7% of the men, 54.5% of the women), in minimalist shoes the percentage of automatic strike-changers was 5.7% (2,4% of men, 16.2% of women). Running barefoot, the patients used shorter strides and a higher cadence than in traditional running shoes and the vertical ground reaction forces under the midfoot and heel were lower. Automatic strike-changers were not better candidates for the treatment program, in terms of subjective ease of the gait retraining sessions and duration or outcome of the treatment program. Running barefoot is a helpful methodology to facilitate gait retraining.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Automatic Strike-Change Phenomenon: When Running Barefoot Patients Change from a Heel Strike to a Forefoot Strike Without Any Instruction
AU  - Wes Zimmermann
AU  - Naomi van Valderen
Y1  - 2021/03/10
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
T2  - International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education
JF  - International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education
JO  - International Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education
SP  - 1
EP  - 7
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1611
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsspe.20210601.11
AB  - The department of Military Sports Medicine of the Royal Netherlands Army has an ongoing research line ‘Exercise-Related Leg Pain’ since 2011. This study investigated which immediate changes occur in running technique while running barefoot or in minimalist running shoes on a treadmill, which proportion of service members automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing without any instruction to do so, and whether these patients experienced a subsequent gait retraining program as easier and completed it faster or with a better clinical outcome. In total, data from 53 patients with exercise-related leg pain were used to answer the research questions. Running barefoot, 24.5% of patients automatically changed from a heel strike landing to a forefoot strike landing (16.7% of the men, 54.5% of the women), in minimalist shoes the percentage of automatic strike-changers was 5.7% (2,4% of men, 16.2% of women). Running barefoot, the patients used shorter strides and a higher cadence than in traditional running shoes and the vertical ground reaction forces under the midfoot and heel were lower. Automatic strike-changers were not better candidates for the treatment program, in terms of subjective ease of the gait retraining sessions and duration or outcome of the treatment program. Running barefoot is a helpful methodology to facilitate gait retraining.
VL  - 6
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download