主办单位:成都体育学院
ISSN 1001-9154 CN 51-1097/G8

Journal of Chengdu Sport University ›› 2022, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (6): 101-106.doi: 10.15942/j.jcsu.2022.06.016

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Effect of Forefoot Bending Stiffness of Running Shoes on the Running Economy and Joint Work of Lower Extremity in Male Runners

LI Qiujie1, WANG Xianglin1, LIU Hui1, ZHU Xiaolan1, ZHENG Zhiyi2, QU Feng1   

  1. 1. Beijing Sports University, Beijing 100084;
    2. Anta (China) Ltd, Quanzhou Fujian 362000
  • Received:2021-03-03 Revised:2022-03-28 Online:2022-11-15 Published:2022-12-01

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of forefoot bending stiffness of running shoes on the running economy and joint work of lower extremity in male runners. Methods: Five pairs of running shoes with different forefoot bending stiffness were made through modifying the density and depth of grooves on midsole (the bending stiffness of shoes A, B, C, D, E were reduced in order). Eleven male running enthusiasts participated in the study and their O2 consumption and joint work of lower extremity when they ran in each type of shoes were collected and analyzed. Results: The effect of forefoot bending stiffness of running shoes on the running economy and metatarsophalangeal joint work were statistically significant, and there was no statistical difference in joint work for hip, knee, and ankle joint. The O2 consumption and metatarsophalangeal joint work of participants when they ran in shoes C were the lowest, and their O2 consumption and metatarsophalangeal joint work when running in shoes A and D were comparatively higher. Conclusion: The effect of forefoot bending stiffness of running shoes on the running economy and metatarsophalangeal joint work in male runners shows a tendency to decrease at first and increase afterwards. Running shoes with too high or too low forefoot bending stiffness would increase the metatarsophalangeal joint work and reduce running economy. The effect of forefoot bending stiffness of running shoes on metatarsophalangeal joint work may be the reason for the effect on running economy in male runners.

Key words: bending stiffness, running economy, metatarsophalangeal joint, joint work, biomechanics, running shoes

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