How Do Foot Arch And Running Shoe Contribute To The Landing Impact During Running?

Though foot arch plays a key role on impact shock absorption, it was reported to collapse after a long-distance run [1]. Heel height and drop of running shoes were independently examined in previous studies [2]. Unlike heel drop, heel inclination is also related to shoe size but was never examined. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of foot arch and shoe sole on the landing impact during running. METHODS: Thirty-one college students were recruited to run 50 m at 3.30 (±5%) m/s and peak tibial axial acceleration (PTA) was continuously recorded. Foot shape was 3D scanned in seated and standing postures for obtaining arch height (HArch), arch height index (AHI), arch stiffness index (ASI) and arch height flexibility (AHF), and their shoe soles were measured for obtaining heel height (HHeel), toe height (HToe), heel-to-toe drop (∆H) and inclination angle (θ). RESULTS: Significant correlation was detected for most of the foot arch and shoe sole parameters. Overall, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that PTA prediction model was PTA = 64.266-55.911 × ASI + 0.698 × θ (R2 = 0.474, p < 0.001). Male and female runners showed great differences and the PTA prediction model was PTAMale = 88.406 + 0.119 × BW-0.306 × HArch-84.078 × ASI (R2 = 0.398, p = 0.001) and PTAFemale = 76.579-68.709 × ASI (R2 = 0.518, p < 0.019), respectively. CONCLUSION: The foot arch and shoe sole features are tightly related to landing impact during running. Generally, the stiffer the foot arch and the smaller the heel inclination, the lower the landing impact during running. - Table 1. Multiple linear regression analysis for factors affecting the peak tibial axial acceleration (PTA) B β t p F Adjusted R 2 Overall (Constant) 64.266 4.46 <0.001 7.746 0.474 Bodyweight (BW) 0.015 0.06 0.37 0.72 0.015 Arch height (HArch) -0.208 -0.24 -1.54 0.14 -0.208 Arch stiffness index (ASI) -55.911 -0.49 -3.59 0.001 -55.911 Heel-to-toe inclination angle (θ) 0.698 0.36 2.56 0.017 0.698 Male (Constant) 88.406 3.84 0.001 5.469 0.398 Bodyweight (BW) 0.119 0.40 2.48 0.021 0.119 Arch height(HArch) -0.306 -0.42 -2.29 0.031 -0.306 Arch stiffness index (ASI) -84.078 -0.51 -3.27 0.003 -84.078 Heel-to-toe inclination angle (θ) -0.013 -0.01 -0.03 0.97 -0.013 Female (Constant) 76.579 2.70 0.019 5.307 0.518 Bodyweight (BW) -0.047 -0.05 -0.24 0.82 Arch height (HArch) -0.136 -0.13 -0.73 0.48 Arch stiffness index (ASI) -68.709 -0.63 -2.98 0.012 Heel-to-toe inclination angle (θ) 0.80 0.41 2.10 0.06 Supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2022YFC2503205),the General Project of the Shenzhen Higher Education Institutions Stability Support Program from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (No. 20220808191211001). REFERENCES:[1] Shiotani et al. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30(8), 1360-8.[2] Malisoux et al. Am J Sports Med 2016; 44(11), 2933-40.