The Effects of the Soles of Running Shoes on the Physiological Parameters of Runners
【Supercategory：7. DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Subcategory：7.7 Vol.7】
Running shoes have been studied extensively by many researchers so far. However, their approaches were mainly on the mechanics of the shoes such as absorptiveness of landing impact, resistance to slip, flexibility of the sole and weight of the shoes, and there were few papers on the physiological effects of the running shoes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the soles of running shoes on the physiological parameters of runners.
Two types of shoes were provided: one's sole was constructed of out sole (thickness 6.7 mm, stiffness 68) only, without mid sole and wedge (S-1), and the other's was constructed of the same out sole as S-1, mid sole (thickness 15.3 mm, stiffness 55) and wedge (thickness 8.8mm, stiffness 54) (S-2). Subjects were two healthy males, aged 20 years old. One was a highly trained long distance runner (YOS) and the other was an untrained jogger (MDA). Electromyograms (EMG) of the subjects were recorded for rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GC) during running at a constant speed (160m/min). Change of knee angle and contact period were also recorded with a goniometer and two foot switches (on the heel and the thenar), respectively.
There was no difference in EMG and goniogram between S-1 and S-2 in the trained subject (YOS). However, remarkable difference was found in the goniogram of the untrained subject (MDA). Namely, MDA with S-2 landed with smooth knee flexion, while with S-1, knee flexion was observed twice at landing. Besides, a higher electrical activity of the muscle was observed in S-1 compared with S-2, especially in GC and RF.
Consequently, it was suggested that the trained runner could not be influenced by the thickness of the sole, probably due to the high running technique, while the untrained was greatly influenced by the thin sole and the role of the knee joint to absorb the landing impact became very important.
DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.7/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
Two types of shoes were provided: one's sole was constructed of out sole (thickness 6.7 mm, stiffness 68) only, without mid sole and wedge (S-1), and the other's was constructed of the same out sole as S-1, mid sole (thickness 15.3 mm, stiffness 55) and wedge (thickness 8.8mm, stiffness 54) (S-2). Subjects were two healthy males, aged 20 years old. One was a highly trained long distance runner (YOS) and the other was an untrained jogger (MDA). Electromyograms (EMG) of the subjects were recorded for rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GC) during running at a constant speed (160m/min). Change of knee angle and contact period were also recorded with a goniometer and two foot switches (on the heel and the thenar), respectively.
There was no difference in EMG and goniogram between S-1 and S-2 in the trained subject (YOS). However, remarkable difference was found in the goniogram of the untrained subject (MDA). Namely, MDA with S-2 landed with smooth knee flexion, while with S-1, knee flexion was observed twice at landing. Besides, a higher electrical activity of the muscle was observed in S-1 compared with S-2, especially in GC and RF.
Consequently, it was suggested that the trained runner could not be influenced by the thickness of the sole, probably due to the high running technique, while the untrained was greatly influenced by the thin sole and the role of the knee joint to absorb the landing impact became very important.
DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.7/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
| Researcher | Takashi Ono, Hidetaro Shibayama, Nobutaka Taguchi, Senshi Fukashiro, Taiko Fukashiro, Jun'ichi Kitagawa |
|---|---|
| University or institution | National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya |
Keywords