Effects of standing and walking on plantar pressure distribution in recreational runners before and after long-distance running

Abstract

With marathon-running grew in popularity, the effect of long-distance running on plantar pressure has been more attractive. It has been proposed that long-distance running influences the deviation in the center of pressure (COP) during standing and the changes to plantar pressure during walking. The objective of this study was to observe the effects on the COP motion amplitude of static standing and the plantar pressure distribution of walking after long-distance running. The influence of a 10-km run on changes to plantar pressure was assessed during standing and walking. Plantar pressure was measured before and immediately after running. In the study, seven males and five females participated in barefoot tests of static standing and dynamic walking. In the static standing tests, COP was measured under the following four ordered conditions: (1) bipedal, eyes open, standing; (2) bipedal, eyes closed, standing; (3) unipedal, eyes open, standing and (4) unipedal, eyes closed, standing. Under each condition, the data was collected while a stable standing posture for 10 s. In the dynamic walking tests, the contact duration and plantar pressure were recorded. The standing tests results revealed no significant differences between males and females while slight differences before vs. after running. Running for a single time had no effect on COP deviation during standing. The walking tests results revealed an initial landing on the lateral heel. After landing on the lateral heel, the females quickly transferred to the medial heel. The movement of the pressure to the medial heel was slower in males than females. After running, the pressure of females was more inward, while that of males was more outward under the metatarsal zones in the propulsion phase.

Keywords: Center of pressure; Long-distance running; Plantar pressure; Walking.