AUTHOR=Mo Shiwei , Lu Feifei , Li Chuhao , Zhao Huan 

TITLE=Effects of 10 KM run on foot morphology and bilateral symmetry in male recreational runners

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1427418

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2024.1427418

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>Foot morphology and arch integrity do not remain constant during a running bout. Previous studies have reported inconsistent changes in foot sizes and arch parameters and this discrepancy may be related to the variation in their test duration, e.g., 15-min treadmill run vs. 30 KM trial. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the change in foot morphology, arch integrity and bilateral symmetry after a 10 KM run among 19 male recreational runners. Before and after the run, a portable foot scanner was used to capture the 3-dimensional foot images and measure foot dimensions in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. Foot arch integrity was quantified by arch height ratio, arch height index, and arch stiffness index (ASI). Bilateral symmetry was evaluated by calculating the symmetry index. Increased foot length (<italic>p</italic> = 0.007; <inline-formula id="inf1"><mml:math id="m1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>η</mml:mi><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.18) and decreased ball girth (<italic>p</italic> = 0.038; <inline-formula id="inf2"><mml:math id="m2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>η</mml:mi><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.11) were demonstrated following the run with absolute differences of less than 2 mm. Navicular height, dorsum height, arch height ratio and arch height index significantly decreased after the run (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001; <inline-formula id="inf3"><mml:math id="m3" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>η</mml:mi><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> ≥0.30) whereas ASI increased (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, <inline-formula id="inf4"><mml:math id="m4" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>η</mml:mi><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.33) and navicular height drop reduced (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001, <inline-formula id="inf5"><mml:math id="m5" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msubsup><mml:mi>η</mml:mi><mml:mi>p</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msubsup></mml:mrow></mml:math></inline-formula> = 0.37). Significances of symmetry index were only demonstrated for navicular height (<italic>p</italic> = 0.019, effect size = 0.37) and arch height ratio (<italic>p</italic> = 0.019, effect size = 0.42). A few changes in foot morphology were detected but a reduction in foot arch height was demonstrated, which may give shoe manufacturers insights into shoe design. Male recreational runners were recommended to choose shoes with arch support for maintaining foot arch function during a 10 KM run.</p>