The effects of a 4-week barefoot exercise intervention on plantar pressure, impact, balance and pain in injured recreational runners: A pilot study

Abstract

<p><i>Background:</i> With recreational running's continued popularity and incidence of lower extremity injuries increasing, it is important from an osteopathic practitioner perspective, to be aware of treatment/interventions that may enhance recovery or prevent injury. With an osteopathic lens we postulate that improving function leads to symptomatic benefit in not only structure but throughout the kinetic chain.</p> <p><i>Objectives:</i> The present study aimed to assess the effects of a 4-week barefoot (BF) training intervention on; visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, postural sway, plantar pressure, stride and foot impact.</p> <p><i>Methods:</i> In this parallel design study, eight recreational runners were recruited and blindly randomised to a control (CO) (1 M & 2F; aged 28.0 ± 12.1 years; weight 63.3 ± 11.6 kgs) or intervention (I) (4 M & 1F; aged 33.4 ± 9.3 years; weight 69.8 ± 7.6 kgs).</p> <p><i>Results:</i> No significant differences in plantar pressure or stride pre- or post-intervention for CO or I group. However, there were significant reductions in the intervention group for VAS walk (pre:mdn = 3 (IQR = 3.0–5.5; post:mdn = 1.5 (IQR = 1.0–4.0) and run (pre:mdn = 6 (IQR = 4.5–7.5; post:mdn = 2.0 (IQR = 1.5–5.0). Also, for medial-lateral eyes open sway condition for both left (pre:mdn = 2.94 (IQR = 2.54–5.42; post:mdn = 2.26 (IQR = 2.05–3.18) and right leg (pre:mdn = 3.55 (IQR = 2.79–4.32; post:mdn = 2.71 (IQR = 2.26–3.34). Finally, a significant decrease in rear-foot strike impulse (pre:mdn = 4.66 (IQR = 3.01–5.14; post:mdn = 2.66 (IQR = 1.81–3.54).</p> <p><i>Conclusion:</i> The present study assesses short-term balance and impact changes through a BF intervention. It is entirely probable plantar cutaneous mechanoreceptor activity has increased leading to peripheral and centrally mediated improvement in balance through reduction in sway. The reductions in impact outline the neuro-bio-mechanical relationship and importance of plantar sensitivity. For injuries where either factor is at play, BF activity may have clinical benefits.</p>