Paraspinal and Gastrocnemii Response to Shod and Barefoot Running with Rearfoot and Forefoot Landing

Authors

Shivaniba Gohil, Midwestern State UniversityFollow

Abstract

Barefoot (BF) and shod (S) running with conditions at heel landing (HS) and forefoot landing (FF) has impact on shock attenuation at the foot through the trunk. Muscle activation is crucial to understand the response of the system to vertical loading of the system during running. Purpose: This study investigated muscle activation in the gastrocnemii and lumbar paraspinal (LP) muscles during barefoot (BF) and shod (S) running with heel strike (HS) and forefoot strike (FF) landings to understand neuromuscular responses to vertical loading. Methods: Sixteen female collegiate runners (20.4 ± 3.2 yrs, 59.4 ± 7.7 kg, 1.63 ± 0.07 m) performed steady-state treadmill runs at their preferred speed (10.3 ± 1.5 km/h). Inertial measuring units (IMUs) with accelerometers and gyroscopes were placed on the foot/shoe and lumbar region, while surface EMG sensors recorded medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemius and LP activity. EMG data were processed, normalized to peak values in S-HS trials, and analyzed across 10 gait cycles per condition using a 2 × 2 ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: LP activation (NEMG) was significantly higher in BF vs. S (p < 0.05) and lasted longer. Peak LP activation was greater in HS vs. FF under BF conditions (p < 0.05), and BF-HS showed higher peak values than S-HS (p < 0.05). MG activation was greater in FF vs. HS (p < 0.05) and in S vs. BF (p < 0.05). Peak MG activation showed significant interaction effects (p < 0.05), with FF > HS. LG activation also exhibited significant interactions between foot landing and shoe conditions (p < 0.01), with FF showing greater activation than HS. NEMG duration was longer in BF vs. S (p < 0.05) and in FF vs. HS (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Footwear and foot-strike patterns influence muscle activation, affecting shock attenuation and neuromotor control. The LP muscle was particularly sensitive to these conditions, indicating potential implications for trunk stability and injury risk in different running styles.

Recommended Citation

Gohil, Shivaniba (2025) "Paraspinal and Gastrocnemii Response to Shod and Barefoot Running with Rearfoot and Forefoot Landing," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 17, Article 181.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss17/181