Effects of Foot Strengthening on the Incidence of Injuries in Long Distance Runners

Effects of a Foot Strengthening Program on the Incidence of Injuries, Foot Functionality and Health in Long Distance Runners: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

The main objective of this trial is to investigate the effects of a training protocol for the foot and ankle complex on the prevalence of running related injuries on long distance runners.

Using a web software as a follow up tool, subjects can be scanned for injuries and have them confirmed by a physician, determining the injuries prevalence in one year.

Through force platform and infrared cameras, the kinematics and kinetics during gait will allow assessment of joint moments, power during propulsion, ankle and knee range of motion.

The hypothesis is that a strengthening program for foot and ankle muscles can alter the prevalence of lower limbs injuries on long distance runners, lowering the harmful forces that these segments receive. The participants will be randomly assigned into control group (placebo intervention) or into intervention group, that will receive an 8 weeks strengthening intervention, twice a week with the supervision of a physiotherapist and three times a week being remotely supervised by a software at home, for 30 minutes each session. This will aim for increasing foot and ankle range of movement and muscle strength.

Every exercise has its own progression depending on the subjects execution, increasing in intensity and difficulty.

Inclusion Criteria:

• practice long distance (more than 5 km) running for at least one year;
• run at least 20 km a week;

Exclusion Criteria:

• run using minimalist shoes or barefoot;
• having prior experience in isolated foot and ankle strength training within the last year;
• have any health condition that affect gait and running;
• being receiving any physical therapy intervention;
• having any running related injuries during the last two months.