Term of Award

Spring 2024

Degree Name

Master of Science in Kinesiology (M.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Jessica Mutchler

Committee Member 1

Sam Wilson

Committee Member 2

Nicholas Siekirk

Committee Member 3

Barry Munkasy

Committee Member 3 Email

bmunkasy@georgiasouthern.edu

Abstract

With the rise in popularity of running, running shoe companies have researched and designed several models aimed at the purpose of providing comfort and aiding in the decrease of running related injuries. Technology was developed for running shoes to control forefoot and rearfoot impact forces and rearfoot motion during running. However, there is no overwhelming evidence supporting the notion that footwear corresponding to foot type leads to a decrease in running injuries. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe footwear selection, foot type, and running biomechanics in previously injured male distance runners. Six total participants completed this case series. Cases 1 and 3 were recreational runners, Cases 2, 4, and 5 were professional athletes, and Case 6 was an assistant coach for a professional sport team. All participants had a history of lower extremity running related injury within the last year, but no current injury preventing them from running 10+ miles per week. Each participant completed the Disablement for the Physically Active Short Form-8, a questionnaire on shoe selection and injury history, Foot Posture Index (FPI), dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) using the weight bearing lunge test and walking and running trials in the equipment outfitted biomechanics lab. Running kinematic and kinetics were calculated along with descriptives of FPI, DFROM, and survey data for analysis between cases. The two cases that had Achilles/shank injuries also had

clinically significant asymmetry with reduced DFROM in the affected limb. Case 3 was the only Highly Pronated Foot Type and with footwear not recommended for foot type. Case 3 lacked dorsiflexion at absorption and lacked appropriate foot progression into eversion. As a result that also had the highest vertical ground reaction force. Case 4 had similar injuries to Case 3, but sought care and had close to normal dorsiflexion range of motion. Injury history may affect long- term dorsiflexion range of motion if not rectified and have more influence on biomechanics than foot type.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

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