Can running kinetics be modified using a barefoot training program?

Abstract

Introduction: There is limited information about barefoot transition programs and this study will help to increase knowledge about this growing trend. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to determine the effect of a twelve-week barefoot training program on kinematic variables in long-distance runners. Materials and methods: A total of 32 well-trained, habitually shod, long-distance runners, randomized in a control group and an experimental group who undertook a barefoot training program. At pre-test and post-test, all participants, wearing their usual sneakers, performed running tests at self-selected recovery and competitive running speeds on a treadmill. Both conditions were recorded with a 240 Hz video rate system and analyzed using a 2-D video editing program using photogrammetric techniques. Contact time, flight time, step duration and cadence were measured using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was performed. Results: In posttest, only the duration of landing phase at high speed showed significant difference, the experimental group achieved a shorter time than the control group after the barefoot training program (0.032 ± 0.007 s vs. 0.038 ± 0.006 s). In relation to within-group differences, the control group showed an increase of duration of stance phase at low speed (Δ = 0.014 s, p = 0.024) and a reduction of flight time at high speed (Δ = −0.014 s, p = 0.034). Moreover, the experimental group achieved a reduction of duration of landing phase at high speed (Δ = −0.008 s, p = 0.004). Conclusions: A twelve-week program of barefoot running changes the duration of the landing phase at high speed, being shorter in long-distance runners. In contrast, the runners who did not undertake the training showed an increase of duration of stance phase at low speed.