Effects of different running shoes and foot strike patterns on Achilles tendon length changes and loading characteristics during running based on real-time ultrasound
10.3969/j.issn.1000-6710.2025.08.003
- VernacularTitle:基于实时超声探究不同跑鞋和着地模式对跑步时跟腱长度变化及负荷特征的影响
- Author:
Xini ZHANG
1
;
Baisheng FU
;
Liqin DENG
;
Yuxin LI
;
Weijie FU
Author Information
1. 宁波大学体育学院(浙江 宁波 315211);上海体育大学"运动健身科技"省部共建教育部重点实验室(上海 200438)
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Achilles tendon force;
strain;
forefoot strike;
rearfoot strike;
minimalist shoes
- From:
Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine
2025;44(8):618-625
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To compare the effect of immediately wearing different running shoes and foot-strike patterns on the in vivo Achilles tendon(AT)length and loading of habitual rearfoot striking(RFS)runners.Methods Eleven male running enthusiasts were recruited(age:33.7±8.7 years old,running experience:5.3±2.3 years).They were randomly assigned to wear cushioned running shoes or minimalist shoes,and run at 10 km/h on a Bertec 3-D force platform with forefoot striking(FFS)and RFS,respectively.The ultrasound imaging probe was fixed at the junction of the AT and the me-dial head of the gastrocnemius muscle with an elastic bandage,synchronized with the Vicon high-speed infrared motion capture system,which collected and calculated real-time length changes and loading characteristics of the AT in vivo.A 2×2 two-way ANOVA was used to determine the effect of different running shoes(cushioned running shoes vs.minimalist shoes)and foot strike patterns(FFS vs.RFS)on the in vivo AT loading characteristics during running,and the significance level α was set at 0.05.Results There was a significant interaction between footwear type and footstrike patterns on the foot strike angle.Within the same shoe condition(cushioned or minimalist),foot strike angle(FSA)was significantly greater during RFS than during FFS(P<0.05).Moreover,during RFS,FSA was significantly greater in cushioned shoes than in minimalist shoes(P<0.05).In addition,under acute manipulations of footwear and strike pattern,the instantaneous AT loading rate also exhibited a signifi-cant footwear and foot strike patterns interaction(P<0.05).The instantaneous AT loading rate was sig-nificantly greater when immediately wearing minimalist shoes with RFS than when wearing cushioned running shoes with RFS,as well as significantly greater when immediately wearing cushioned running shoes with FFS than when running with RFS(P<0.05).In addition,there was no interaction effect for the other parameters,except the significant group or time main effects(P<0.05).The peak AT force,average AT loading rate,AT impulse,peak AT stress,peak AT length change,and AT work during FFS were significantly greater than those during RFS(P<0.05).What's more,the peak AT force when immediately wearing minimalist shoes was significantly greater than that when wearing cushioned run-ning shoes(P<0.05).Conclusion It is suggested that immediately wearing minimalist shoes and/or transi-tioning to FFS could provide higher tendon loading intensity,which might improve the morphology and mechanical properties of the AT.However,the increased AT loading rate also indicated that if RFS was maintained while running in minimalist shoes,the reduced cushioning could have led to a greater risk of injury without an appropriate adaptation process.
