| dc.description.abstract | The purpose' of this study is to see how Vibram Fivefingers (VF), a minimalist shoe, compares to barefoot and shod running when looking at ground reaction forces and the motion of the lower extremities. Sixteen healthy, recreational female runners vohmteered for this study. They were given a two week accommodation period in the VF and were asked to run in them for up to twenty minutes three times a week. Following this training, testing consisted of seven running trials per shoe condition over a force platform. Each subject had reflective markers that were filmed with 120Hz using eight cameras surrounding the platform. No runners were previously trained in VF or barefoot running prior to this study. They developed a running form that most comfortable for them. Results show that half the subj ects changed their running form to a fore-foot strike in both VF and barefoot while the other half continued to rear-foot strike. When forefoot striking VF and barefoot had negative ankle plantarflexion values. They had a lower average loading rate but a higher ground reaction in comparison to regular running shoes. Those who stuck to rear-foot striking had positive ankle plantarflexion values and higher average loading rates in comparison to regular running shoes. | en |
