BACKGROUND: Walking in minimalistic footwear (MF) increases mechanical loading on the knee joint, exposing it to acute stresses that may heighten the risk of early onset of knee osteoarthritis. This type of footwear can modify walking patterns in the lower limbs, further intensifying joint stress and contributing to the deterioration of articular surfaces. PURPOSE: First, to evaluate the differences in kinetic variables associated with the early onset of knee osteoarthritis between MF and neutral footwear (NF) during walking; second, to determine the extent of acute cartilage loading in the knee joint, particularly footwear after 45 minutes of walking in an urban environment, using magnetic resonance imaging (T2 relaxation times [T2RTs] and percentage change of loading) in weightbearing zones. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Knee forces and knee moments were obtained during walking trials of 20 healthy participants using statistical parametric mapping. The analysis focused on alterations across specific intervals of the stance phase, expressed as percentages of the gait cycle. T2RT values of cartilage were quantified using a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and immediately after 45 minutes of walking in each condition. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in knee force during the stance phase: (1) in the sagittal plane, greater values were between 2% and 9% and between 90% and 100%, and lower values were between 18% and 40% and between 62% and 85% in MF; (2) the frontal plane showed lower values between 7% and 14% and 98% in MF, and greater values were between 7% and 14% and 98% in MF; and (3) the transversal plane showed greater values between 0% and 9% and between 54% and 78%, and lower values were between 25% and 40% and between 81% and 100% in MF. Knee adduction moment showed significantly lower values between 0% and 8%, 32% and 90%, and >92% and 100%. Knee flexion moment showed significantly lower values between 3% and 5%, 25% and 69%, and >7% and 19% in MF. The main effect of loading in NF of cartilage showed significantly lower T2RT values in all superficial femur parts and significantly greater T2RT values in deep central tibia. MF showed significantly lower T2RT values in the superficial anterior-posterior femur in the medial cartilage compartment. CONCLUSION: Increased knee moments in all planes reflect the effect of an acute change to particular footwear. NF reveals a greater response to loading in weightbearing knee cartilage zones. The superficial layers appeared to be more sensitive to loading after 45 minutes of walking.

• Keywords
• biomechanics, footwear, gait, magnetic resonance imaging, minimalistic, neutral,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that individuals with an increase in HbA1c (i.e. above the regular but below the diabetic threshold) exhibit an impairment in the Achilles tendon structure and walking capacity, due to the adverse effect of the advanced glycation end-product. One hundred fifty-eight participants matched for gender, age, physical activity and BMI, were divided in two cohorts based on the HbA1c level: normal HbA1c (NGH; <39 mmol/molHb; n = 79) and altered HbA1c (AGH; >=39 mmol/molHb; n = 79). Each participant performed several walking trials to evaluate the kinematic parameters during walling at the self-selected speed and a quantitative MRI scan of the Achilles tendon (AT) to obtain its intrinsic characteristics (i.e. T2* relaxation time short and long component). The AT T2* relaxation time short component (a parameter related to the tendon collagen quality) was reduced in AGH compared to NGH. Furthermore, AGH exhibited a slower self-selected walking speed (NGH: 1.59 ± 0.18 m/s; AGH:1.54 ± 0.16 m/s) and a shorter stride length (NGH: 1.59 ± 0.13 m; AGH:1.55 ± 0.11 m). Our data suggest that a non-pathological increase in HbA1c is able to negatively affect AT collagen quality and walking capacity in healthy people. These results highlight the importance of glycemic control, even below the pathological threshold. Since diabetes could alter several biological pathways, further studies are necessary to determine which mechanisms and their timing, regarding the HbA1c rise, affect tendon composition and, consequently, walking capacity.

• Keywords
• Achilles tendon, Gait, HbA1c, MRI, Tendon degeneration,
• MeSH
• Achilles Tendon * diagnostic imaging   physiology   metabolism   MeSH
• Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
• Walking * physiology   MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus diagnosis   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Glycated Hemoglobin * metabolism   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
• Glycation End Products, Advanced metabolism   MeSH
• Healthy Volunteers MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Glycated Hemoglobin * MeSH
• hemoglobin A1c protein, human MeSH Browser
• Glycation End Products, Advanced MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common running-related injuries. PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of PF and identify potential risk or protective factors for PF in runners and non-runners. METHODS: Data from 1206 participants from the 4HAIE cohort study (563 females/643 males; 715 runners/491 non-runners; 18–65 yr of age) were included in the analysis. We collected biomechanical data during overground running using a three-dimensional motion capture system at the baseline and running distance data via retrospective questionnaires and followed the participants for 12 months following the baseline data collection. Participants were asked weekly about any sports-related injury (including PF). A binary logistic regression was performed to reveal potential associations between running distance and biomechanical risk factors and PF while controlling for running distance, sex, and age. RESULTS: The total incidence of PF was 2.3% (28 PF from 1206 participants), 2.5% in runners and 2.0% in non-runners (P = 0.248). Runners who ran more than 40 km·wk−1 had six times higher odds of suffering PF than individuals who ran 6–20 km·wk−1 (P = 0.009). There was a significant association between maximal ankle eversion and PF; that is, runners with a greater eversion angle during the stance period had higher risk of PF (P = 0.024). No other biomechanical variables indicated significant associations with PF. CONCLUSIONS: Regular running with a moderate weekly volume and more toeing out of the foot relative to the shank may reduce the risk against PF in runners, which may be useful for researchers, runners, coaches, and health professionals to minimize PF injury risk.

• MeSH
• Running * injuries   physiology   MeSH
• Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Fasciitis, Plantar * epidemiology   prevention & control   etiology   MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: Regular walking in different types of footwear may increase the mediolateral shear force, knee adduction moment, or vertical ground-reaction forces that could increase the risk of early development of knee osteoarthritis (OA). PURPOSE: To compare kinematic and kinetic parameters that could affect the development of knee OA in 3 footwear conditions. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: A total of 40 asymptomatic participants performed walking trials in the laboratory at self-selected walking speeds under barefoot (BF), minimalistic (MF), and neutral (NF) footwear conditions. Knee joint parameters were described using discrete point values, and continuous curves were evaluated using statistical parametric mapping. A 3 × 1 repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine the main effect of footwear for both discrete and continuous data. To compare differences between footwear conditions, a post hoc paired t test was used. RESULTS: Discrete point analyses showed a significantly greater knee power in NF compared with MF and BF in the weight absorption phase (P < .001 for both). Statistical parametric mapping analysis indicated a significantly greater knee angle in the sagittal plane at the end of the propulsive phase in BF compared with NF and MF (P = .043). Knee joint moment was significantly greater in the propulsive phase for the sagittal (P = .038) and frontal planes (P = .035) in BF compared with NF and MF and in the absorption phase in the sagittal plane (P = .034) in BF compared with MF and NF. A significant main effect of footwear was found for anteroposterior (propulsion, ↑MF, NF, ↓BF [P = .008]; absorption, ↑BF, MF, ↓NF [P = .001]), mediolateral (propulsion, ↑MF, NF, ↓BF [P = .005]; absorption, ↑NF, MF, ↓BF [P = .044]), and vertical (propulsion, ↑NF, BF, ↓MF [P = .001]; absorption, ↑MF, BF, ↓NF [P < .001]) ground-reaction forces. Knee power showed a significant main effect of footwear (absorption, ↑NF, MF, ↓BF [P = .015]; propulsion, ↑MF, NF, ↓BF [P = .039]). CONCLUSION: Walking in MF without sufficient accommodation affected kinetic and kinematic parameters and could increase the risk of early development of knee OA.

• Keywords
• SPM, barefoot, footwear, knee, minimalistic, osteoarthritis, walking,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH