Effects of intrinsic foot muscle training on shank, rearfoot and forefoot coordination and its variability in male runners with non-rearfoot strike pattern: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrinsic foot muscle (IFM) training on shank, rearfoot and forefoot coordination and its variability in male runners with non-rearfoot strike (NRFS) pattern. The study randomly assigned 40 habitual NRFS male runners into intervention and control groups. The participants in the intervention group received eight weeks of strength training targeting IFMs. After eight weeks of IFM training, the intervention group exhibited a substantial increase in the proportion of anti-phase coordination patterns in frontal rearfoot-transverse shank (FRTS) and frontal rearfoot-sagittal forefoot (FRSF) during early stance and a reduction in coordination variability across different phases of stance. Compared with the control group, the intervention group exhibited increased anti-phase of distal dominancy in FRTS (mid stance) and FRSF (late stance) and decreased anti-phase of distal dominancy (mid stance) in frontal rearfoot-transverse forefoot (FRTF). Moreover, the intervention group showed reduced coordination variability in frontal rearfoot-frontal forefoot (early and late stance) and FRTF (early stance). This study demonstrated that eight weeks of IFM training can improve adaptive movement strategies and enhance neuromuscular control among the shank, rearfoot, and forefoot. NRFS runners could adopt IFM training for performance optimization and injury prevention.