Effects of running in minimal and conventional footwear on medial tibiofemoral cartilage failure probability in habitual and non-habitual users.

Abstract

This study examined the effects minimal and conventional running footwear on medial tibiofemoral cartilage mechanics and longitudinal failure probability. The current investigation examined twenty males who habitually ran in minimal footwear and 20 males who habitually ran in conventional footwear. Kinematic data during overground running were collected using a motion capture system and ground reaction forces using a force plate. Medial tibiofemoral loading was examined using musculoskeletal simulation and cartilage failure probability via probabilistic modelling. In habitual minimal footwear users, peak medial tibiofemoral cartilage force, stress and strain were significantly greater in conventional (force=7.43BW, stress=5.12MPa & strain=0.30), compared to minimal footwear (force=7.11BW, stress 4.65MPa & strain=0.28), though no significant differences in these parameters were evident in non-habitual minimal footwear users (conventional: force=7.50BW, stress=5.05MPa & strain=0.30 and minimal: force=7.40BW, stress=4.77MPa & strain=0.29). However, in both habitual and non-habitual minimal footwear users’, probability of medial tibiofemoral cartilage failure was significantly greater in the conventional (habitual=47.19% & non-habitual=50.00%) compared to minimal footwear (habitual=33.18% & non-habitual=32.81%). The observations from this investigation show that in relation to minimal footwear, conventional footwear appear to have a negative influence on medial tibiofemoral cartilage health.