Effects of Foot Strengthening on the Incidence of Injuries in Long Distance Runners

University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Leg Injuries

Treatments: Other: Foot and ankle strengthening

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02306148

LaBiMPH-002

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main objective of this trial is to investigate the effects of a training protocol for the foot and ankle complex on the prevalence of running related injuries on long distance runners.

Full description

Using a web software as a follow up tool, subjects can be scanned for injuries and have them confirmed by a physician, determining the injuries prevalence in one year.

Through force platform and infrared cameras, the kinematics and kinetics during gait will allow assessment of joint moments, power during propulsion, ankle and knee range of motion.

The hypothesis is that a strengthening program for foot and ankle muscles can alter the prevalence of lower limbs injuries on long distance runners, lowering the harmful forces that these segments receive. The participants will be randomly assigned into control group (placebo intervention) or into intervention group, that will receive an 8 weeks strengthening intervention, twice a week with the supervision of a physiotherapist and three times a week being remotely supervised by a software at home, for 30 minutes each session. This will aim for increasing foot and ankle range of movement and muscle strength.

Every exercise has its own progression depending on the subjects execution, increasing in intensity and difficulty.

Enrollment: 118 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• practice long distance (more than 5 km) running for at least one year;
• run at least 20 km a week;

Exclusion criteria

• run using minimalist shoes or barefoot;
• having prior experience in isolated foot and ankle strength training within the last year;
• have any health condition that affect gait and running;
• being receiving any physical therapy intervention;
• having any running related injuries during the last two months.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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118 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Control Group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Group will practice 15 seconds isometric lower limb stretching protocol and must continue practicing running as usual.

Treatment:

Other: Foot and ankle strengthening

Foot and ankle strengthening

Experimental group

Description:

Group will be trained during 2 months by a physiotherapist for foot and ankle strengthening and must continue to exercise at home with a training software supervision. Must continue practicing running as usual.

Treatment:

Other: Foot and ankle strengthening