The Effect of Footwear on Hip and Knee Mechanics in Low Arched Runners

Abstract

Runners with low arches (LA) and excessive eversion are suggested to be at a greater risk for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). As a result, motion control shoes are often recommended for these individuals. However, little is known about how footwear affects hip and knee mechanics that are potentially related to PFPS. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of motion control shoes on hip and knee mechanics in LA runners. METHODS: Twenty LA recreational runners (>10 miles per week) were recruited for the study. LA runners were classified as having an arch height index two standard deviations below a previously established normative value (0.340 +/− 0.03). Three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics were collected on the runners as they traversed a 25m runway at 3.7 ms +/− 5% which had a force plate located at its center. Subjects ran in both a cushioning running shoe (C) as well as a motion control running shoe (MC). The footwear order for each subject was randomized. Discrete kinematics and kinetics at the hip and knee were examined between footwear conditions using an Independent samples t-test. RESULTS: There were no differences between footwear conditions for peak knee internal rotation, peak knee adduction, peak knee abduction moment, peak hip adduction, or peak hip abduction moment. The peak knee external rotation moment was greater for the MC compared to the C (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results would suggest that, aside from the knee external rotation moment, hip and knee mechanics were similar between footwear conditions. Future studies should focus on the effect of footwear on patients experiencing PFPS, who may gain greater benefits than healthy controls.