The effect of two retraining programs, barefoot running vs increasing cadence, on kinematic parameters: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two 10-week non-laboratory-based running retraining programs on foot kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters in recreational runners. One hundred and three recreational runners (30±7.2years old, 39% females) were randomly assigned to either: a barefoot retraining group (BAR) with 3sessions/week over 10weeks, a cadence retraining group (CAD) who increased cadence by 10% again with 3sessions/week over 10weeks and a control group (CON) who did not perform any retraining. The footstrike pattern, footstrike angle (FSA), and spatial-temporal variables at comfortable and high speeds were measured using 2D/3D photogrammetry and a floor-based photocell system. A 3×2 ANOVA was used to compare between the groups and 2 time points. The FSA significantly reduced at the comfortable speed by 5.81° for BAR (p<0.001; Cohen's d=0.749) and 4.81° for CAD (p=0.002; Cohen's d=0.638), and at high speed by 6.54° for BAR (p<0.001; Cohen's d=0.753) and by 4.71° for CAD (p=0.001; Cohen's d=0.623). The cadence significantly increased by 2% in the CAD group (p= 0.015; Cohen's d=0.344) at comfortable speed and the BAR group showed a 1.7% increase at high speed. BAR and CAD retraining programs showed a moderate effect for reducing FSA and rearfoot prevalence, and a small effect for increasing cadence. Both offer low-cost and feasible tools for gait modification within recreational runners in clinical scenarios.