Abstract
Excessive foot loading has been considered as a contributing factor for fatigue fractures of the metatarsal bones and may thus be potentially limiting the individual's training capacity and athletic performance. This study investigated the fatiguing effects of long-distance running on foot loading characteristics in a cohort of runners and triathletes. Twenty-three experienced runners were measured before, during and after a 25-km training run with in-shoe plantar pressure measurements with PEDAR insoles. An EMED platform was used to compare plantar pressures during barefoot walking before and after the run. The comparisons revealed distinct foot loading changes, especially a significant load reduction under the toes (up to 30% difference) and midfoot (up to 14% difference) and significantly increased loading under the central forefoot (up to 14% difference). These results confirm the potentially detrimental effect of running when fatigued and may help to understand the occurrence of fatigue fractures in the metatarsals. The findings could be used to design appropriate footwear and/or insoles in order to prevent overloading in extended running.
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