ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2019 January;59(1):76-81

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.07964-1

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Static and dynamic plantar pressure distribution in amateur marathon runners

Arletta HAWRYLAK, Paweł MATNER, Aneta DEMIDAŚ ✉, Katarzyna BARCZYK-PAWELEC, Ewa DEMCZUK-WŁODARCZYK

Department of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare the static and dynamic plantar pressure profiles of amateur marathon runners with sedentary cohorts. Research questions: Are there differences in the plantar pressures of these two populations? Is there a correlation between body mass and BMI with plantar loading?
METHODS: The study involved 43 runners involved in marathon training and 30 age-matched untrained individuals. Plantar pressure was measured using a baropodometric system.
RESULTS: The marathon runners showed greater forefoot plantar pressure of the dominant extremity in the static condition and reduced medial plantar pressure of both extremities in the dynamic condition. A correlation was observed between body mass and BMI with mean plantar pressure only in the marathon group and only for the dominant extremity in the dynamic condition.
CONCLUSIONS: Marathon training may modify the forefoot plantar loading characteristics of the dominant extremity during static conditions and increase lateral plantar pressure of both extremities in a dynamic (gait) condition.

KEY WORDS: Running - Adult - Foot - Muscles