REARFOOT MOTION AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS DURING RUNNING IN SHOES WITH VARUS AND VALGUS WEDGES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of 8 degree s varus and valgus shoe modifications on the foot mechanics in overgro und running. Twenty male subjects performed eight rearfoot running tri als in three shoe conditions. Ground reaction forces, tibial accelerat ions, rearfoot motion, and in-shoe pressure distribution data were col lected simultaneously. Between footwear conditions, force and accelera tion parameters were found to be significantly different. Compared to the neutral shoe, maximum pronation acid pronation velocity were reduc ed for the varus and increased for the valgus shoes. Higher lateral re arfoot lends and an increased contribution of the first ray in the for efoot could be evaluated for the valgus shoe. In contrast, a larger co ntribution of the medial midfoot and the fifth metatarsal head was obs erved for the varus shoe. The relative load analysis from the pressure distribution measurements provided additional information about the b ehavior of the foot in response to major changes in shoe construction.