Load Transference with Running Speed in Natural Rear-foot Strike Male Runners

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of running speed on plantar pressure, and to use a load transfer algorithm to investigate the load transference in healthy recreational male runners who had a natural rear-foot strike pattern. Totally, 49 healthy males participated in this study, 39 of them (age 22.8 ± 1.8 years, weight 65.6 ± 7.9 kg, height 171.9 ± 4.0 cm) were identified as rear-foot strike runners. Data of pressure parameters, including maximum force, peak pressure, contact area and force-time integral (FTI) was recorded by Pedar-X insole plantar pressure measurement system at 8 different speeds (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 km/h). The results indicated that with the increase of running speed, plantar pressure significantly increased under all foot regions except for the big toe. Faster running speeds resulted in significant lower FTI in all foot regions except for lateral midfoot and heel. Medial metatarsal, central metatarsal, and big toe were the main loading regions for rear-foot strike male runners during running. Load transferred from medial foot to lateral foot in transverse direction, and from toes to metatarsal, midfoot and heel in the longitudinal direction with increasing speeds. As a component of the spring mechanism, the arch played a key role in supporting and transferring loads.