Long-term effects of school barefoot running program on sprinting biomechanics in children: A case-control study

• Published in: Gait & posture Vol. 83; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Mizushima, Jun, Keogh, Justin W.L., Maeda, Kei, Shibata, Atsushi, Kaneko, Jun, Ohyama-Byun, Keigo, Ogata, Mitsugi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Barefoot; Children; Foot strike pattern; Sprinting; Barefoot; Foot strike pattern; Sprinting; Children
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.09.026

•Habitual barefoot running children had shorter contact times and longer flight times.•Habitual barefoot running children used a more anterior FSP in shod sprinting.•Habitual barefoot running children jumped higher with shorter contact time.•Longitudinal research is required to confirm the optimal dosage of barefoot running. The acute changes of running biomechanics in habitually shod children when running barefoot have been demonstrated. However, the long-term effects of barefoot running on sprinting biomechanics in children is not well understood. How does four years of participation in a daily school barefoot running program influence sprint biomechanics and stretch-shortening cycle jump ability in children? One hundred and one children from barefoot education school (age, 11.2 ± 0.7 years-old) and 93 children from a control school (age, 11.1 ± 0.7 years-old) performed 50 m maximal shod and barefoot sprints and counter movement jump and five repeated-rebound jumping. To analyse sprint kinematics, a high-speed camera (240 fps) was used. In addition, foot strike patterns were evaluated by using three high-speed cameras (300 fps). Jump heights for both jump types and the contact times for the rebound jump were measured using a contact mat system. Two-way mixed ANOVA was used to examine the effect of school factor (barefoot education school vs control school) and footwear factor (barefoot vs shod) on the sprinting biomechanics. Sprinting biomechanics in barefoot education school children was characterised by significantly shorter contact times (p = 0.003) and longer flight times (p = 0.005) compared to control school children regardless of footwear condition. In shod sprinting, a greater proportion of barefoot education school children sprinted with a fore-foot or mid-foot strike compared to control school children (p < 0.001). Barefoot education school children also had a significantly higher rebound jump height (p = 0.002) and shorter contact time than control school children (p = 0.001). The results suggest that school-based barefoot running programs may improve aspects of sprint biomechanics and develop the fast stretch-shortening cycle ability in children. In order to confirm this viewpoint, adequately powered randomised controlled trials should be conducted.