Effects of Varying Amounts of Pronation on the Mediolateral Ground Reaction Forces during Barefoot versus Shod Running
in Journal of Applied BiomechanicsDespite extensive research on running mechanics, there is still a knowledge gap with respect to the degree of relationship between mediolateral ground reaction forces (ML-GRF) and foot pronation. Our goal was to investigate whether differences exist in ML-GRF among runners that exhibit different degrees of pronation. Seventeen male and 13 female recreational runners ran with and without shoes while ML-GRF and frontal kinematics were collected simultaneously. Subjects were divided into groups based upon their peak eversion (low pronation, middle pronation, high pronation). Discrete parameters from the ML-GRF were peak forces, respective times of occurrence, and impulses. No significant differences were found between groups regarding the magnitude of ML-GRF. Based upon the relative times of occurrence, the peak medial GRF occurred closer to the peak eversion than the peak lateral GRF. Findings support the idea that the ML-GRF have less to do with pronation than previous research suggested.
Morley and Decker are with Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE. Dierks is with the Department of Physical Therapy, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN. Blanke is with Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, and with Health Promotion, Social & Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. French is with the Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE. Stergiou is with Nebraska Biomechanics Core Facility, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, and with the Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE.
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