Abstract
Plantar fasciopathy (PF) leads to dysfunctional walking biomechanics.
The purpose was to investigate gait in individuals with PF after wearing minimal shoes (MS) plus performing rehabilitation exercises, versus rehabilitation-only.
Thirty-two individuals with PF were randomly allocated into Foot Rehabilitation And Minimal ShoES (FRAMES: n=18 (13 female), 43.6±11.5 years, 77.4±10.8kg, 167.7±9.6cm) or control (n=14 (9 female), 35.5±10.9 years, 77.8±15.3 kg, 166.7±6.7cm). All completed exercises for 8-weeks and FRAMES wore MS with a graded progression. Treadmill walking biomechanics were assessed with instrumented insoles at a baseline self-selected pace (BP), and repeated at post-test (BPP) with a secondary self-selected pace (PP). The FRAMES group walked in MS. Outcome were gait-speed, contact-time, time-to-peak, time-between-peaks, loading-rate, impulse; first-peak, second-peak, and mean impact-forces. Linear mixed models evaluated changes by group and between: (1) BP and BPP, (2) BP and PP, (2) PP and MS; all with gait-speed as a covariate.
Comparison 1 showed a significant decrease in contact-time non-PF (p=0.003) and PF (p=0.004), and TTP non-PF (p=0.001) and PF (p<0.001). Comparison 2 showed a significant main effect of time for increased gait-speed (p=0.042) and interaction effect for second-peak impact-force non-PF (p=0.029). Comparison 3 showed significant main effects of time for contact time non-PF (p=0.009), as well as TTP non-PF (p=0.001) and PF (p=0.049).
After 8-weeks of strengthening exercises with or without wearing MS, gait-speed increased. While walking at the same speed, participants altered their contact time, time-to-peak, and gait speed.