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1- Department of Sport Biomechanics, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Abstract: (24 Views)
Background: Carbon-plated shoes may improve running performance by altering lower-limb biomechanics through increased longitudinal bending stiffness, compliant midsole foam, and rocker geometry. However, their neuromuscular effects remain inconsistent, and little is known about how runners with pronated feet, who exhibit distinct biomechanical and muscle activation patterns, respond to this footwear.
Objective: To compare lower-limb electromyographic activity during running between runners with pronated feet who habitually used carbon-plated or conventional running shoes.
Methods: In this pilot laboratory-based comparative study, 30 recreational runners with pronated feet were evaluated while running in their habitual footwear: carbon-plated shoes (n = 15) and conventional running shoes (n = 15). Surface electromyography (1000 Hz) was used to record the activity of the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis during overground running. EMG signals were band-pass filtered (10–500 Hz), notch filtered at 60 Hz, normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC), and quantified using root mean square (RMS). Muscle activation during the push-off phase was compared between groups using independent-samples t-tests. All muscle-specific analyses were considered exploratory, and a Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold of p < 0.00625 was applied for the eight muscle-specific comparisons.
Results: No significant between-group differences were observed in age, height, body mass, or body mass index (all p > 0.05). Unadjusted analyses showed higher EMG amplitudes in the medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.035, d = 0.81), vastus medialis (p = 0.021, d = 0.931), and rectus femoris (p = 0.039, d = 0.795) during push-off in the carbon-plated footwear group compared with the conventional footwear group. However, none of these between-group differences remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction for the eight muscle-specific comparisons (adjusted significance threshold: p < 0.00625). No significant between-group differences were observed for the tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, or gluteus medius (all p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Runners with pronated feet who habitually used carbon-plated shoes showed higher unadjusted EMG amplitudes in the medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris during push-off than those who habitually used conventional footwear. However, none of these between-group differences remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. These findings should therefore be considered exploratory and interpreted cautiously because the study was observational and the footwear models differed in multiple design characteristics beyond the presence of a carbon-fiber plate.
Objective: To compare lower-limb electromyographic activity during running between runners with pronated feet who habitually used carbon-plated or conventional running shoes.
Methods: In this pilot laboratory-based comparative study, 30 recreational runners with pronated feet were evaluated while running in their habitual footwear: carbon-plated shoes (n = 15) and conventional running shoes (n = 15). Surface electromyography (1000 Hz) was used to record the activity of the tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis during overground running. EMG signals were band-pass filtered (10–500 Hz), notch filtered at 60 Hz, normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC), and quantified using root mean square (RMS). Muscle activation during the push-off phase was compared between groups using independent-samples t-tests. All muscle-specific analyses were considered exploratory, and a Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold of p < 0.00625 was applied for the eight muscle-specific comparisons.
Results: No significant between-group differences were observed in age, height, body mass, or body mass index (all p > 0.05). Unadjusted analyses showed higher EMG amplitudes in the medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.035, d = 0.81), vastus medialis (p = 0.021, d = 0.931), and rectus femoris (p = 0.039, d = 0.795) during push-off in the carbon-plated footwear group compared with the conventional footwear group. However, none of these between-group differences remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction for the eight muscle-specific comparisons (adjusted significance threshold: p < 0.00625). No significant between-group differences were observed for the tibialis anterior, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, or gluteus medius (all p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Runners with pronated feet who habitually used carbon-plated shoes showed higher unadjusted EMG amplitudes in the medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris during push-off than those who habitually used conventional footwear. However, none of these between-group differences remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. These findings should therefore be considered exploratory and interpreted cautiously because the study was observational and the footwear models differed in multiple design characteristics beyond the presence of a carbon-fiber plate.
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