A study of foot defects, foot deformities and diseases among long, middle distance shod and barefoot runners: A cross sectional comparative study

Sports Nutrition and Ortho Congress

December 08-09, 2016 | Philadelphia, USA

Watson Arulsingh D R

Alva�s College of Physiotherapy and Research Center, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Sports Med Doping Stud

Abstract :

Running is most popular form of exercise that people engage in to stay active and healthy. However owing to a high incidence of injuries there arise a need to increase safety of running so as to derive the health benefits of running that overweighs the risk of injury. Foot problems are the most common injuries that are reported by long distance and marathon runners. There is controversy over the use of barefoot running to decrease the overall risk of injury secondary to individual differences in lower extremity alignment, gait patterns, and running biomechanics. Although few studies in the past explored foot conditions among non-athletes, none compared foot defects, deformities and diseases among barefoot and shod long distance runners. This study was to compare the occurrence of foot defects, deformities and diseases between middle, long distance shod runners and barefoot runners. It is a cross-sectional, comparative experimental study with double phase design. Convenient of sampling method was adopted and three groups were stratified into barefoot, shod runners and unshod counterpart from Dakshina, Karnataka, India. The mean age of barefoot runner group was 19.11�±3.4, shod runners 21.51�±8.2 and control 20.67�±2.04 who were screened in this study. Duration was from 2009 to 2014. Total sample of 255 was aimed at 5% drop out by conforming to the sample size of 240 by pilot study. Validated tools were used to screen these disorders approved by dermatologist and orthopedic surgeon. SPSS v 16.0 is used for data analyses. Homogeneity was tested across groups. . The mean BMI of barefoot runner group was 18.7�±2.5, shod runners 19.5�±3.2 and controls 20.98�±2.5. Descriptive data of the occurrence of foot defects, deformities and diseases were drawn and ANOVA one way analysis revealed significant difference in foot defects, deformities and diseases among the three groups with p<0.01. Shoe components were correlated. There was significant difference in foot defects, deformities and diseases among the three groups with p<0.01. Control group was found with negligible foot disorders against the other two groups.

Biography :

Email: watsonarulsingh@yahoo.in