Foot Strike Pattern Modification During Running Among Children Aged 3-15 Years.

Abstract

Foot strike patterns (FSPs) during running in shod and barefoot adults have been examined recently. However, the development of footstrike patterns in children is largely unstudied. It was expected that children would adopt more of a rearfoot strike pattern as they age. PURPOSE: To analyze the foot strike patterns (FSPs) during running among children aged 3-15 years. METHODS: 415 habitually shod, Brazilian children, 216 M and 199 F, aged 3-15 years were analyzed used in a cross-sectional study. Videos were captured using high-speed camera (300 Hz). FSPs were classified visually according the first region to contact the ground at initial contact (rearfoot (RFS), midfoot (MFS) and forefoot strikes (FFS)). Children were instructed to run at a comfortable speed along a 20-meter runway. 6 trials were collected: 3 shod (SH), and 3 barefoot (BF). Speed was measured using a manual chronometer and were not necessarily maintained between each participant’s BF and SH conditions. The % of FSPs was calculated for each age group (3-5 yrs.; 6-7 yrs.; 8-10 yrs.; 11-13 yrs.; and 14-15 yrs). The Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to compare the distribution of FSPs between SH and BF conditions and between age groups. RESULTS: Speeds ranged between 2.0 and 6.56 m/s. The distribution of FSPs were not significantly different between the ages for the SH condition (p= 0.121). The distribution of FSPs was significantly different between the ages in the BF condition (p= 0.007), but a pattern was not established. The % of RFS patterns was significantly greater in the SH condition, and the % of MFS and FFS patterns was greater in the BF condition. CONCLUSION: While FSPs appear to be different between BF and SH conditions, there does not seem to be a consistent change in FSP across the ages.