Obesity and foot muscle strength are associated with high dynamic plantar pressure during running. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naderi, Aynollah; Baloochi, Ramin; Rostami, Komeil Dashti; Fourchet, François; Degens, Hans
• Is Part Of: Foot. Volume 44(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Body mass index -- Recreational runners -- Lower extremity overuse injuries -- Foot muscle strength -- Endurance; Foot -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Foot -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Foot Diseases -- Periodicals; Foot -- surgery -- Periodicals; Pied -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Pied -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Pied -- Lésions et blessures -- Périodiques; Foot -- Diseases; Foot -- Surgery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 617.585005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2020.101683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-2592

Abstract

Highlights: Obesity is associated with high dynamic peak foot pressures. The high foot pressure is primarily due to a high body mass index. After a run, foot muscle fatigue increases peak foot pressures in obese runners. Abstract: Obese people are often encouraged to lose body mass by exercise. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of body mass and ankle muscle strength on the dynamic foot-pressure distribution before and after running. Twenty-five normal weight (72.0 ± 5.3 kg), 25 overweight (80.8 ± 5.6 kg) and 25 obese (96.8 ± 6.5 kg) age- and height-matched male recreational runners joined the study. Before and after 30 min running, dynamic foot-pressure distribution during running, and ankle plantarflexor, dorsiflexor, invertor and evertor muscle strength were measured using a foot-scan pressure-plate and isokinetic dynamometer, respectively. Body mass index and percentage fat mass correlated positively to almost all components of foot-pressure distribution; this explantion was extracted from 14% (for toe 1) to 52% (for dynamic arch index) of peak foot pressure and between 21% (for metatarsal 1) to 48% (for midfoot) of the impulse underneath different foot zones. Only plantarflexor muscle strength significantly predicted plantar pressure and impulse underneath the T1, T2-5, midfoot area and the dynamic arch index. After running, plantarflexor and invertor muscle strength predicted from 30% (for metatarsal 2) to 58% (for metatarsal 1) of peak foot-pressure and impulse underneath the different foot zones. Obesity is associated with excessive plantar loading that is aggravated after running by fatigue-related reductions in plantar flexor and invertor muscle strength. To prevent foot pain and injuries related to excessive foot pressures, at the start of the weight control process non-weight bearing rather than weight-bearing exercise is advisable.