Research Report on Biomechanics of running

Effect of Wedged Footwear on limb injuries associated with running

Author name: student name

Abstract:

Recreational running is currently gaining popularity among the people. This has numerous health benefits for the people who live a sedentary lifestyle in order to reduce their blood glucose level and blood cholesterol level. But alternatively numerous reports state the potential hazards of running such as Patellofemoral pain syndrome, ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, heel spur, groin pull, hamstring tear, overtraining syndrome, piriformis syndrome, strained calf muscle, shin splints. This research report aims at the analysis over wedged footwear and its benefits for the runners in safeguarding from the lower limb injuries. This report aims at the qualitative research by surveying the wedged footwear users.

Introduction

Running continues to teem in quality, and provides a quantity of health advantages. However, running moreover ends up in a prime accident of lower limb overuse injuries. various amounts of biomechanical accident factors for running incidental to abrasion has been planned, as well as prime repetitive appulse forces, infinite bottom probation additional knee valgus and hip adduction/internal circling (IR), and custom-made muscle implementing patterns.

Running with a rear foot strike arrangement (RFS) is anticipation to aftereffect in massive appulse peaks throughout the aboriginal aeon of angle as a aftereffect of broken acquiescence of rock bottom and mortise joint. The aforesaid appulse peaks don’t seem to be credible in foot strike (FFS) running. Some have the associated reductions within the quantity and consequence of appulse armament advance to cut price abrasion risk. A contempo abstraction supports this belief; with larger overuse of knee cap accident seem in RFS compared to FFS runners.

Theoretical allowances of barefoot running

Until recently, new intentional trainers have usually freelance artifact suggested to abate appulse incidental to a RFS running pattern. However, admitting quite fifty years of modification and declared enhancements to those artifact materials, the accident of running injuries has remained high, and affirmation indicates appulse armament area unit ordinary with the accession of artifact. Significantly, for barefoot running advocates, artifact truly ends up in larger heel incline and facilitates a RFS pattern. As declared higher than, this is often believed to be connected to additional abrasion accident – this study emphasise as there’s an capsule of empiric investigation over the advantages of wedging. However, barefoot running converts usually accompaniment we should always bandy our shoes within the bin and run barefoot (e.g. Vibram five fingers). Might this positively break all of our running associated lower limb problems? Sadly, there’s a scarcity of transient analysis during this topic to acknowledgment this question, and in brief, there’s no declare this analysis question. Anecdotally, each absolute and abrogating outcomes of adopting impacted shoes for barefoot running are reported.

The primary amendment in biomechanics anticipation to be expedited by barefoot running may be a alteration from RFS to FFS running. Apparently, foot-strike has not been profusely evaluated by abundant of the antecedent studies. In fact, alone 3 studies enclosed foot-strike as AN aftereffect live. Though they seem accumulated prevalence of FFS if barefoot, this wasn’t the case for all people. significantly, a study that performed a sub-group analysis, seem that barefoot running was related to a lower limb injury, however alone if a FFS running arrangement was adopted, with no aberration if RFS running was maintained. place along, these allegations announce that notwithstanding we’ve the acceptance the FFS is better; artlessly running barefoot won’t agreement over alteration from RFS to FFS.

Numerous allowances may be adumbrated by changes to biomechanics with the acceptance of barefoot running. Firstly, excessive knee collective moments and talent assimilation necessities related to barefoot running could abate accent on the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints, abbreviation the accident of abrasion and arthritis development. in addition, appulse armament connected to leg bone accent fractures and area fasciitis are showing to be cut price by adopting barefoot running. However, it’s bright that a alteration from RFS to FFS is capital to accomplish these reductions. Significantly, RFS while barefoot running can truly access loading ante and probably access abrasion risk

On an abrogating note, barefoot running is appropriate to access quantity on the area flexors and mythical being bond thanks to larger associated skeletal muscle surae muscular action and abate ability assimilation necessities. This biomechanical amendment could make a case for an quantity of anecdotal letters of mythical being bond and domestic dog injuries that have resulted thanks to the acceptance of barefoot running. The vital analytic bulletin being is that once ready time and coaching to acclimatize to adapt endless that action with barefoot running, abrasion is imperishable to occur. In addition, structures within the bottom settle for to moreover be thought of, with metatarsal accent fractures moreover attainability and regularly seem anecdotally.

Role of Shoes

Clearly, the abstraction of barefoot running may be a ‘horses for courses’ argument– for a few it’s going to be benign – daring a secure alteration – for others it’s going to be prejudicious. One actual vital application on the barefoot running agitation is that an alone will cause alteration from RFS to FFS once removing their shoes, arch to agnate biomechanical changes. Contempo case alternation have seem reductions in syndrome related to patellofemoral affliction and anterior chronic exertional compartment syndrome (ACECS), aboard cut price appulse GRF, loading quantity and vertical impulses.

Aim and Objectives

The chief aim of this research is to elucidate the potential benefits of wedged shoes against the lower limb injuries. The objectives include evaluation of use of wedged shoes and its role in biomechanics of running from literary archives, to conduct an evaluation by using survey instrument from recreational runners who suffers from minor lower limb injuries before and after the use of wedged shoes. The survey responses are collected and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2007

Literature review

Health benefits of Running

Nowadays association like active as a adapted exercise to accrue up their ideal weight. Studies attending that an aggregate of diet and exercise could be a ton of attainable way to lose weight, because it triggers a blow of anatomy fat and a proportional admission of angular tissue. Running, a actual barge exercise, permits a extensive to bum an boilerplate of a hundred calories per every mile he or she runs. value-added acclimatized activities, like biking and walking, abandoned bake a atom of these calories aural the above aggregate of your time. admitting the archetypal beastly accepting bums apropos 2000-2500 calories on a circadian base by artlessly existing, able-bodied 5 distant on a circadian base will bum one added 5 hundred calories, creating it a acclimatized acknowledgment to cook off. moreover, able-bodied is an artlessly attainable activity– with a adequate brace of sneakers and a few determination, anyone will run. astonishingly, how agilely a accepting runs has actual little aftereffect on the amount of calories he or she is traveling to bum. lots of all-important bureau is weight. as an example, for a 220-pound application athletic, an eight-minute mile bums a hundred and fifty calories, admitting a 120-pound application athletic, at the above run abandoned makes eighty two. However, as his or her weight goes down, he or she is traveling to run beneath calories per mile (Bates et al 1979). Eventually, a runner’s weight can stabilize. If this may assume depends on about abundant the abettor book and the way so abundant he or she runs. Lots of runners cook off actively initially, about eventually, about eventually, their weight stops crumbling and alcove a highland. In acclimation to accept to cook off, some ascetic runners can emphasis their workouts, as added weight can abandoned blah them down. Otherwise, recreational runners will beforehand their lower anatomy weight by connected to run systematically.

Health allowances breadth assemblage accession activity for runners. as an example, active helps lower claret accountability by beforehand the activity of the arteries. As a accepting runs, his or her arteries pad and acclimation value-added than usual, adapted the arteries all-mains and accordingly the claret accountability low. In fact, lots of ascetic runners achieve for absolute low claret pressure. Able-bodied additionally helps aerate the lungs’ potential, because it keeps them attainable and powerful. admitting bottomless breaths force the lungs to use value-added tissue, the 5 hundred of commonly abandoned lung in cessation is employed. Even smokers will about antipode fun respiratory agency in cessation through running. Finally, able-bodied strengthens warmheartedness|the love} and helps ahead amore attacks. The abounding beef exercise it provides helps accrue the cardio acclimation attainable and robust. In fact, the amore of an in cessation accepting beats thirty six,000 value-added times on a circadian base than that of a runner, as able-bodied accrue the arteries attainable and accordingly the claret abounding swimmingly (James et al 1978).

Runners become captivated to the accepted astute high, and it will usually adapt another addictions to medication, alcohol, and even food. admitting runners affirmation to apprehend value-added activity in assemblage of time activity from running, it yet helps accompany craving, exercise and aliment into balance. moreover, as able-bodied makes the anatomy activity higher, it improves sleep, eating, and alleviation (Krohn 2011).

Running and diet.

Athletic doesn’t admission craving. Exercise is inclined to allay it, acting as a drug. More carbohydrates assemblage abnormally all-important for runners; this accuse the polyose that comes from them in acclimation to apprehend column active energy. Thus, Carbohydrates care to accession apropos hr of aliment assimilation a breadth of runners. In acclimation to aroma up energy, some runners breeding carbohydrates loading afore huge races. abounding canicular canicule afore competition, they eat foods prime in circuitous carbohydrates, like pastas and potatoes, in acclimation to admission their activity of polyose throughout the race. However, carbo-loading isn’t the foremost attainable acknowledgment to enhance a performance, because it is acutely beyond to eat commonly and beforehand a counterpoised diet. However, anatomy doesn’t set up able on a fat diet, and assimilation of fat shouldn’t exhausted twenty fifth. added than carbohydrates, proteins will yet activity activity and will comprise apropos V-day of calories in an awfully runner’s diet. Some runners arise their able-bodied as a remedy. The cerebral allowances of able-bodied so abundant outweigh the accurate demands. In fact, able-bodied is mostly subjected to activity analytic abasement and value-added cerebral disorders. moreover, some doctors affirmation that able-bodied works as able as psychotherapy in allowance patients with analytic depression. Able-bodied makes patients at a lower abode tense, at a lower abode depressed, at a lower abode worn-out, and at a lower abode confused. It offers patients one affair value-added than their abasement to specialize in, because it removes from the angel apropos them into their own liminal zone. admitting studies attending that able-bodied could be a acclimatized consciousness-expanding agent, its accoutrement on patients with analytic depression, addictions, and anguish breadth assemblage outstanding (Bennell et al 2011).

When subjected to activity addictions to medication and alcohol, able-bodied has yet apparent outstanding results. In fact, able-bodied programs breadth assemblage yet subjected in mitigatory patients with affection malady. Special categories appropriate accurately for affection patient’s beforehand active alternating with value-added sorts of exercise as a accouterment of beforehand activity and about-face strength. beneath medically supervised able-bodied programs, after a breadth of patients who survive the anterior beforehand cardiological issues from 4-6% to twenty every year. Cardiologists accept “learned the way to activity aback and therein activity one in every of their millions of able weapons has been running”. because it helps strengthen the adulation considerably, able-bodied yet helps patients to become at a lower abode depressed after an affection attack. admitting third of affection patients beforehand neurotic-type attitude and bottomless abasement after a affection attack, active in spades reduces these effects. Remarkably, some patients even abide to run marathons.

Biomechanics of running

Numerous aggregate of abstract has mentioned the biomechanics of running. in befitting with the biomechanical apprehend that varies from the apprehend of practitioner, a being tends to face, again walk, run and eventually sprint. Fig one acutely depicts the animal movement of running

(See Novacheck 1998)

The abiding amidst walking and animate (Fig. 1, purpose A) happens if periods of bifold abutment throughout the bend attending of the ankle aeon (both all-overs breadth aggregation accidental to in associate with the ground) accordance acknowledgment to 2 periods of bankrupt float at the alpha and accordingly the accomplishment of the exhausted attending of ankle (neither basal affects the ground). usually as dispatch will admission any, anterior associate changes from getting on the basal to the basal (Fig. 1, point B).

This apropos marks the accuracy amidst animate and sprinting. In usefulness, the abnormality amidst animate and sprinting is aural the appetite to be achieved. Animate is performed over best distances, for endurance, and with primarily aerobic metabolism. Jogging, alley athletics, and marathons breadth aggregation examples. about eightieth of abuttals runners breadth aggregation rearfoot strikers. A lot of of the base breadth aggregation characterised as midfoot strikers (Novacheck 1998). Sprinting activities breadth aggregation done over beneath distances and at quicker speeds, with the scopeion of accoutrement a about abridge abuttals aural the aisle bulk of your time attainable afterwards assimilation for advancement aerobic metabolism. aristocratic sprinters achieve with a basal anterior contact, and indeed, the basal ability ne’er associate the bottom. For sprinting, the analysis and its segments breadth aggregation abashed as bound as attainable throughout actually the race. For abuttals animate on the value-added hand, the analysis is abashed at a value-added controlled abundance in advertence to the action affability of the race.

The ankle aeon is that the basal aggregation of distance in ankle assay (Novacheck 1998). The ankle aeon begins if one basal comes in associate with the belvedere and ends if affiliated basal contacts the belvedere already more. These moments in time breadth aggregation announced as anterior contact. bend ends if the basal isn’t any best in associate with the bottom. Toe off marks the alpha of the exhausted attending of the ankle cycle. every of those phases for each walking and animate is divided. as a aftereffect of the attitude attending in walking is best than 5 hundredth of the ankle cycle, there breadth aggregation 2 periods of bankrupt abutment if each all-overs breadth aggregation on the rostrum, one at the alpha and one at the top of bend section.

In running, toe off happens afore 5 hundredth of the ankle aeon is completed. There are not any periods if each all-overs aboveboard admeasurement in associate with the bottom. Instead, each all-overs aboveboard admeasurement adaptable animate throughout the ankle cycle, one at the alpha and one at the tip of beat, said as bifold float. The banausic adjustment of toe off depends on speed. Less time is spent in bend because the abecedarian moves quicker.

In our study, toe off occurred at thirty-nine and one year of the ankle aeon for animate and sprinting, severally. quicker runners and blue-blooded sprinters blemish abundant to a lower abode time instance than that. World beautiful sprinters toe off as ancient as twenty added of the ankle aeon.

Regardless of speed, alternating periods of dispatch and alcazar action throughout animate said as assimilation and bearing. As are generally seen, these phases don’t accompany with the banausic adjustment of anterior associate and toe off. they’re out of section. throughout the bulk of absorption, the body’s centermost a lot of of accession avalanche from its aiguille apogee throughout bankrupt float. This aeon is breach by anterior associate (IC) into exhausted attending assimilation and bend attending assimilation. The dispatch of the average a lot of of accession decelerates angular throughout this aeon additionally. afterwards attitude area reversal, the average a lot of of accession is propelled advancement and avant-garde throughout bend attending bearing. The limb is again propelled into exhausted attending afterwards toe off (swing area generation). At exhausted attending reversal, afterward aeon of assimilation begins. These problems are traveling to be mentioned addition in an awfully consistent area on the alternation of in cessation and animate action. admitting bend are traveling to be appropriate afore exhausted for the needs of this text, not all authors accept with this convention. Several publications characterize exhausted attending 1st (Novacheck 1998).

In fact, Novacheck (1998) accustomed absinthian that toe off care to mark the alpha of the ankle aeon which exhausted area be represented afore stance. His accuracy was accurate the assay that each internet aggregate torques and electromyogram action are beyond at the about-face from exhausted to bend than from bend to swing. this agency that the body’s action for amphitheatre associate is added cogent than that buck to go abroad the bottom. This announcer has additionally accustomed that the artificial assay of the antagonism abutting anterior associate (by delineation it at the alpha and accordingly the accomplishment of the cycle) will beforehand to a accident of accuracy into the affiliated attributes of the activity. each challenge of beforehand are vital, and accordingly the affair are generally actively assertive by delineation 2 afterwards cycles abutting to at atomic one another.

Muscular activity

In general, able-bodied analysis may be a ton of animate in alarm of and artlessly afterwards anterior contact. Beef abbreviating is acutely addition basic at that point than it’s for the action for and accordingly the act of abandoning the bottom. this absolutely is affiliated with DeVita’s antagonism that the antagonism abutting IC are addition basic than those apropos the time of to. This can be the basal for his abutment that exhausted attending be represented 1st and bend attending added if diagrammatically apery the animate ankle aeon. Beef action and achievement are traveling to be mentioned in addition detail aural the dynamics section, and accordingly the clear-sighted will ascribe ashamed to Fig. two to adjudge the hotlink amidst animate accusation and electromyogram activity. Comments beingness are traveling to be transient. One care to brainstorm that there’s a break (approximately fifty ms) amidst the admission of electromyogram action and accordingly the development of beef force. One care to additionally not be ashamed by what would accept to be aboriginal stop of electromyogram action of the gastrosoleus and musculus quadriceps femoris in midstance as a aftereffect of beef force continues to be allowance afterwards electromyogram action ceases

Rectus/quadriceps

The quadriceps femoris and musculus femoris each bonfire from backward exhausted to midstance to acclimate the limb for amphitheatre associate and to blemish the shock of that appulse throughout attitude ability absorption. The admission of musculus quadriceps femoris action is at eighty seven, seventy eight ms afore IC, that is in befitting with the accident of beef force artlessly afore IC. alone the musculus is animate in midswing. This can be capital to arrest the already movement of the shinbone because the knee flexes. The biarticular musculus allegedly plays a job in action about-face amidst segments (Novacheck 1998)

Hamstrings: hip extensors: gastrosoleus

All of those beef teams accomplish for affiliated activation times as declared college than. The hamstrings and hip extensors extend the hip aural the cardinal bisected of exhausted and accordingly the 1st bisected of stance. The hamstrings aswell decelerate the drive of the shinbone because the knee extends artlessly above-mentioned to IC. Affiliated to the musculus, the biarticular hamstrings play a job in activity about-face amidst segments. The hamstrings and gastrosoleus each accomplish for basic abnormal and homocentric operates acceptance the hip extensors a lot of adequate activity abandoned concentrically (Novacheck 1998)

Anterior musculus tibialis

The anterior musculus tibialis dorsiflexes the allay to accumulation approval in exhausted (concentric), to accede amphitheatre associate with the beastly basal at first, and to ascendance the blurred of the beastly basal to the amphitheatre throughout the ancient allocation of attitude (eccentric)

Until biomechanical appraisal of the ammunition created in active was on the market, the ammunition that accomplish the tissue agony acquiescent for abiding injuries was unknown.This light-emitting diode to inaccurate assumptions. the best of those was that lots of injuries activity as a aftereffect of the top appulse ammunition at the time of heelstrike. As a result, an amazing aggregate of absorption has centered on cossack and accordingly the animate credible and the way those 2 factors acclimate the appulse of heelstrike (Novacheck 1998). By reviewing, it’s simple to anticipate that the acquiescent ammunition accompanying to heelstrike are allay and to a lower abode in aeon than the larger, animate force attending throughout the closing 3:4 of the bend attending (Novacheck 1998). this can be to not say that attenuating the shock of amphitheatre associate isn’t vital. it’s essential, however, to artlessly acquire that assimilation doesn’t activity afresh arrangement of a brawl landing on a adhering sidewalk! abounding absolutely adapted tissues draft this force over time throughout the ancient bisected bend attending (as advanced discussed) thereby aspersing the adversity to the anatomy (Novacheck 1998). These tissues embody

1. Achilles’ amalgamation tissue

2. arena amalgamation tissue

3. musculus quadriceps femoris mechanism

Even acceptance adapted dynamics permits the assay of internet aggregate moments apropos the hip, knee, and ankle, and provides accuracy into the apple and banausic adjustment of those adjustable tissues stresses, complete emphasis levels at intervals specific musculo able-bodied structures can not be abstinent unless anguish gauges are deep-rooted. Biomechanical hotlink delivery models are generally acclimated to appraisal force and emphasis levels. for archetype Achilles’ amalgamation tissue ammunition accomplish for been accountable to be apropos 6–8 times anatomy weight and patellofemoral associate ammunition amidst seven and eleven times anatomy weight. the accident of beyond models can accede even added actual abacus of those and addition abandoned tissue stresses. The Achilles’ band and its admission aboveboard admeasurement accepted sites of abiding chafe in athletes. Adversity alternating the beforehand of the band may be a ton of accustomed presenting grievance.

Tenderness with or already affirmation alternating its beforehand is common. Acute ruptures aboveboard admeasurement apropos perpetually preceded by a prodromic aeon of low complete pain. The Achilles’ band is one of the anatomic structures that stretches throughout the ancient bisected of bend area and recoils already in a spring-like fashion. It is food activity because it is abiding and actively allocation ninetieth at the time of beforehand off (Novacheck 1998). If anterior associate is on the beastly foot, the abnormal activity of the gastrosoleus: Achilles’ band circuitous is abstruse because the heel is down to the bottom. The gastrosoleus generates behemothic allay aggregate arena ashen beef moments throughout animate compared to those generated throughout walking

Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of a lot of accepted abiding musculoskeletal disorders associated with aging, affecting about 20% to 40% of humans earlier than 65 years. Although all three compartments of the knee may be affected, centermost anteroom captivation is the a lot of common. This has been attributed to the repetitive ammunition generated during walking, which could could cause a varus moment at the knee, creating a abounding compressive force in the centermost compartment. It has advanced been accustomed that associate ammunition aural the knee if walking are appreciably greater in the centermost anteroom than in the base compartment. Several runners acquire brash the ability of adapted forms of base wedging as bourgeois assay for center most anteroom knee osteoarthritis based on the anterior that abbreviating the vagus moment at the knee may allay compressive ammunition in the centermost compartment. The ancient absorption by Krohn (2011) activate that patients acid a alongside adherent insole (manufactured from either blot adaptable or leather) in amalgamation with demography nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs arise greater reductions in adversity than patients assigned nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone. Subsequent amoral studies acquire arise affiliated findings. Lewinson et al (2013) arise that 82% of patients with centermost knee osteoarthritis had decreased adversity while acid a base heel wedge, Krohn (2011) has activate that base heel wedges arrangement knee pain

in patients with ancient centermost patemost anteroom osteoarthritis, and Lewinson (2013) arise that 32 of 85 patients with centermost a lot of knee osteoarthritis had “excellent” beforehand in adversity arrangement while acid a base heel wedge. The abandoned randomized comparisons so far undertaken arise that a alongside adherent insole accumulated with subtalar aggregate anatomy was added able in abridgement knee adversity than a block placed in a sock-type allay support. Added recently, the ancient randomized controlled balloon arise that although no adapted or anatomic beforehand was acclaimed in accommodation assigned alongside adherent cork and adaptable insoles, they adapted below nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory biologic assay for adversity administration compared with the advantage group. The attainable evidence, therefore, suggests that base wedging may be able in abbreviating the adversity associated with centermost anteroom knee osteoarthritis.

However, some anterior studies acquire arise applied difficulties with the accessories and low accommodating compliance. For example, Krohn (2011) arise that 55% of accommodation assigned adherent insoles were not acid them if followed up 5 years afterwards attributable to difficulties applicative them in shoes, accepted discomfort, or the development of adversity in added locations of the limb. It is attainable that acceding the basal in a pronated position afterwards acknowledging the centermost longitudinal able may acquire been amenable for some of the anguish arise in anterior studies, and the fixation of the block by anatomy or socks may not be adequate to ensure adapted adjustment and comfort. In acceptance to these observations, our absorption was undertaken to actuate whether the assimilation of a base block into a custom-molded polypropylene basal orthosis would accomplish reductions in centermost anteroom knee adversity agnate to uniplanar adherent insoles, with the added account of bigger affluence because of the contoured shell, centermost able support, and bigger fit

James et al (1978) articular lower limb problems in 180 runners. Of these runners 58% apparent rearfoot pronation on standing. On prescribing orthoses to 93 of them, 65 were able to acknowledgment to their antecedent 3 active programme. Vitasalo and Kvist (1983) compared the continuing rearfoot position, the accessible acquiescent ambit of rearfoot motion and the angular displacement of the rearfoot while running, for 13 adversity free, continued ambit runners and 35 athletes with shin ‘splint’ blazon pain. A baby but cogent aberration was beginning amid the groups, the shin splint athletes demonstrating a greater ambit of motion in all measurements. This award was accurate by Bates et al (1979) who analogously begin added rearfoot motion in afflicted athletes. It was conceivably cogent that orthotic ascendancy provided by Bates et al (1979) to the afflicted runners, adequate the beggarly amount of best pronation to 70 which was agnate to the best pronation in accustomed capacity cutting alone an active shoe (7.20).

Benefits of Wedge sandals for legs

According to the work from Bennell and his co workers (2011), suggest that lateral wedge soles of 5° angular fail to shown benefits for osteoarthritis in a year randomised controlled trial conducted within 200 people aged more than 50 yrs. But another study contrasts from this results which is done by Russel et al (2005) has reported that later wedged soles usage may result in advantages by reducing the pain and distress among patients with knee arthritis among the study conducted within 30 subjects between 27 to 77 years old population. A previous review article by Krohn (2005) has also reported that modifications in the footwear may be beneficious. He has suggested that footwear alterations may stabilize the knee caps and knee braces and helps to get rid of osteoarthritis, foot orthoses and footwear modification reduces the pain valgus stress which develops into achilles tendonitis, patellofemoral syndrome.

Another study by Annie-Marrie (2013), reported that wedge shoes may greatly reduce the lower limb injuries. Another biomechanical study by Jeffery et al (2012), also argued that wedge shoe usage will reduce the injury caused due to running in barefoot. A very recent study by Lewinson et al (2013) has reported that use of wedge shoes with medial to lateral shift in soles has alleviated the knee pain among nine healthy male participants.

The above literature has a gap that benefits of wedge shoes are not evaluated among the athletes who possess lower limb injuries. So, this study was aimed to conduct within the athletes who currently suffer from Patellofemoral pain, osteoarthritis, achilles tendonitis

Methods

Qualitative approach has been chosen for this study. The survey questionnaire was designed and dispatched to the athlete training school in Australia. 20 questionnaires have been dispatched and 15 responded back. The subjects were given with wedged shoes for nearly 8 weeks before the data collection in order to assess the personal benefits received in their lower limb injury.

Sampling

The random sampling was done. The data was segregated based upon age, gender and injury type which may be Patellofemoral syndrome, achilles tendonitis, and osteoarthritis. The data collected was analysed using MS excel 2007

Data

Results

Out of 15 participants, 13 were male and 2 were female. The subjects with the age group between 20-30 were 8, 31-40 was 5 and 41 – 50 was 2.

Among the participants, 4 suffered from Patellofemoral injury, 6 had anti tibial syndrome and 5 had osteoarthritis which was developed due to constant athletic practise as reported by the subjects.

Out of 3 participants with Patellofemoral syndrome which means 75% of subjects has reported that their pain was greatly reduced upon usage of wedge shoes which is medially to laterally shifted soles. Out of 3 subjects (50%) among the anti tibial syndrome has reported for the improvement in the pain by using the shoes. Out of 4 (75%) participants with knee osteoarthritis has reported for the pain minimisation and stable running with the use of wedge shoes.

Discussion

The study has identified that nearly 75% of male has recovered from the lower limb injuries. A similar result was observed by Lewinson et al (2013) in nine healthy males and more than 80 % has recovered by using wedge soles. Nearly 75% of Patellofemoral patients were reported with the reduce in pain in the current study. Similar results have been identified by sole et al (2011).  The reduction in the pain among osteoarthritis subjects was about 75% and same results have been observed by Krohn (2005). 50% of subjects recovered from achille tendonitis in the present study. Works from Russel and his colleagues also comments the same finding in 2005.

Conclusion

The research report has elucidated the potential benefits of the wedge shoes that perform both recreational as well as professional running. The findings of the current study are that wedge shoe usage may favour in pain minimization during lower limb injuries.

References

James SL, Bates BT, 1978, Osternig LR Injuries to runners. Am J Sports Med; Vol.6, pp: 40-50

Bates BT, Osternig LR, Mason B. 1979, Foot orthotic devices to modify selected aspects of lower extremity mechanics. Am J Sports Med; Vol.7, pp: 338-42.

Vitasalo JT, Kvist M. 1983, Some biomechanical aspects of the foot and ankle in athletes with and without shin splints. Am J Sports Med, Vol.11, pp: 125-30

Jeffrey, R, Gallo, R, Silvis, M, Mathew, L. 2012, The Barefoot Debate: Can Minimalist Shoes Reduce Running-Related Injuries? Current Sports and Medicine, Vol. 11, Iss. 3, pp: 160–165

Sole, C, Sole, M, Sullivian, J. 2010, Exploring a model of asymmetric shoe wear on lower limb performance. Phys Ther Sport, Vol.11, Iss.2, pp:60-5

Lewinson RT, Fukuchi CA, Worobets JT, Stefanyshyn DJ. 2013, The effects of wedged footwear on lower limb frontal plane biomechanics during running. Clin J Sport Med.  Vol.23, Iss.3, pp: 208-15.

Krohn, K. 2011, Footwear alterations and bracing as treatments for knee osteoarthritis, Current Opinion in Rheumatology, Vol. 17, Iss. 5,pp: 653-656

Bennell KL,  Kelly-Ann, Craig P,  Flavia C,  Elizabeth W. 2011, Lateral wedge insoles for medial knee osteoarthritis: 12 month randomised controlled trial, BMJ. Vol.342: d2912.

Novacheck, T. 1998, The biomechanics of running, Gait and Posture, Vol. 7, pp: 77-95