In-shoe multi-segment foot kinematics of children during the propulsive phase of walking and running

Certain styles of children's shoes reduce 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) and midfoot motion during propulsion of walking. However, no studies have investigated if the splinting effect of shoes on children's 1st MTPJ and midfoot motion occurs during running. This study investigated the effect of sports shoes on multi-segment foot kinematics of children during propulsion of walking and running. Twenty children walked and ran at a selfselected velocity while barefoot and shod in a random order. Reflective markers were used to quantify sagittal plane motion of the 1st MTPJ and three-dimensional motion of the midfoot and ankle. Gait velocity increased during shod walking and running and was considered a covariate in the statistical analysis. Shoes reduced 1st MTPJ motion during propulsion of walking from 36.0 degrees to 10.7 degrees and during running from 31.5 degrees to 12.6 degrees Midfoot sagittal plane motion during propulsion reduced from 22.5 to 6.2 during walking and from 27.4 degrees to 9.6 degrees during running. Sagittal plane ankle motion during propulsion increased during shod running from 26.7 degrees to 34.1 degrees During propulsion of walking and running, children's sports shoes have a splinting effect on 1st MTPJ and midfoot motion which is partially compensated by an increase in ankle plantarflexion during running. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.