The Effect of Birkenstock® Arizona Sandals on Reducing Gait Changes Linked to Plantar Fasciitis for Level and Incline Walking

Authors

Julian D. Macdonald, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow
Christiane R. O'Hara, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoFollow
Scott Hazelwood, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

Abstract

Birkenstock^® Arizona sandals have seen a surge in popularity among college aged students, though limited research is available regarding their effect on foot biomechanics. Understanding the changes to biomechanical parameters caused by footwear choice is valuable information for these footwear users. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze specific biomechanical parameters linked to the development of plantar fasciitis that result from wearing Birkenstock^® Arizona sandals. These parameters included ankle dorsiflexion, eversion, compressive force, anterior displacement of the foot center of pressure, and lower leg muscle activation. METHODS: 6 healthy college aged male participants were recruited to participate in this study. Three footwear conditions were experimentally tested on level and incline surfaces; barefoot (BF), foam sandals (FS), and Birkenstock^® Arizona sandals (BA). All particpants were outfitted with an enhanced Helen Hayes retro-reflective marker set and wireless EMG sensors during walking trials. A 12 camera motion analysis system with 4 force plates was used to collect kinematic and kinetic data. Walking trials consisted of multiple steps on level and incline surfaces. The trials were post-processed using the Cortex Motion Analysis software. RESULTS: Post-processing and statistic analysis revealed marginal differences in peak dorsiflexion during incline walking between FS and BA (p = 0.2291). A significant difference was also found in ankle eversion between BA and BF conditions during incline walking (p = 0.0044) . Most other conditions saw no significant differences between footwear on either surface type. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that wearing BA could result in gait biomechanics more similar to BF as compared to wearing FS. Further study with larger samples sizes are required to make concrete conclusions about this footwear.

Recommended Citation

Macdonald, Julian D.; O'Hara, Christiane R.; and Hazelwood, Scott (2025) "The Effect of Birkenstock® Arizona Sandals on Reducing Gait Changes Linked to Plantar Fasciitis for Level and Incline Walking," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 5, Article 18.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss5/18