The Influence of Minimalist and Conventional Sports Shoes and Lower Limbs Dominance on Running Gait

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine how minimalist running shoes (MRS), conventional running shoes (CRS) and the dominance of lower limbs influence the running gait.

Methods: Trained recreational runners (N = 13) who have been engaged in regulary running for more than one year were participants in this study. They were experienced with using MRS and CRS for more than half year and they used both types of shoes. An in-shoe pressure measuring system (Pedar-X®, Novel, Munich, Germany) was used to monitor plantar pressure and vertical force and the temporal parameters when running in MRS and CRS during the stance phase, the swing phase and over one stride.

Results: Running in CRS significantly prolonged stance, swing and stride phases by 2-11%, compared to MRS. In contrast, when running in MRS significantly larger values of maximum pressure (9-14%) and maximum vertical force (3-7%) than in CRS were found.

Conclusions: For this reason, running in MRS could be recommended to recreational runners only with care. The effect of limb dominance on temporal characteristics was detected when running in CRS. Significantly longer stance phase for dominant limb is associated with a shorter swing. The kinematics variables were significantly higher for dominant limb than for non-dominat limb when running in MRS and CRS (by 12-23%).