Does Arch Stiffness Influence Running Spatiotemporal Parameters? An Analysis of the Relationship between Influencing Factors on Running Performance

Felipe García-Pinillos, Diego Jaén-Carrillo, Pedro Ángel Latorre-Román, Carles Escalona-Marfil, Víctor M. Soto-Hermoso, Carlos Lago-Fuentes, Silvia Pueyo-Villa, Irma Domínguez-Azpíroz and Luis E. Roche-Seruendo
Additional contact information
Felipe García-Pinillos: Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
Diego Jaén-Carrillo: Campus Universitario, Universidad San Jorge, 50830 Villanueva de Gállego Zaragoza, Spain
Pedro Ángel Latorre-Román: Department of Corporal Expression, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Carles Escalona-Marfil: Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Central de Cataluña, 08500 Barcelona, Spain
Víctor M. Soto-Hermoso: Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Granada, 18010 Granada, Spain
Carlos Lago-Fuentes: Department of Education, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, 24560 Campeche, Mexico
Silvia Pueyo-Villa: Department of Languages and Education, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, 39011 Santander, Spain
Irma Domínguez-Azpíroz: Department of Education, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, 24560 Campeche, Mexico
Luis E. Roche-Seruendo: Campus Universitario, Universidad San Jorge, 50830 Villanueva de Gállego Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the influence of arch stiffness on running spatiotemporal parameters at a common speed for a wide range of endurance runners (i.e., 12 km·h ?1 ). In total, 97 runners, 52 men and 45 women, completed a treadmill running protocol at 12 km·h ?1 . Spatiotemporal parameters were measured using the OptoGait system, and foot structure was assessed by determining arch stiffness. Since between-sex differences were found in anthropometric and foot structure variables, data analysis was conducted separately for men and women, and body mass and height were considered as covariates. For both sexes, a k-means cluster analysis grouped participants according to arch stiffness, by obtaining a group of low-arch stiffness (LAS group) and a group of high-arch stiffness (HAS group), with significant differences in arch stiffness ( p < 0.001, for both men and women). No significant differences between LAS and HAS groups were found in running spatiotemporal parameters, regardless of sex ( p ? 0.05). For both sexes, the partial correlation analysis reported no significant correlations ( p ? 0.05) between foot structure variables and running spatiotemporal parameters. The results obtained show no differences in spatiotemporal gait characteristics during running at submaximal velocity between runners with low-arch stiffness and those with high-arch stiffness, regardless of sex. These findings may have important implications for clinicians and coaches by adding more evidence to the debate about the use of static foot classification measures when characterizing the foot and its biomechanics during running.

Keywords: arch height; arch mobility; endurance runners; foot; spring-mass model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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