Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(04): 275-281
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-123646
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Association between Forefoot Bone Length and Performance in Male Endurance Runners

Hiromasa Ueno
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Tadashi Suga
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Kenji Takao
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Takahiro Tanaka
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Jun Misaki
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Yuto Miyake
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Akinori Nagano
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
,
Tadao Isaka
1   Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf



accepted after revision 06. November 2017

Publikationsdatum:
23. Februar 2018 (online)

Abstract

Recently, we reported that the forefoot bones were longer in sprinters than in non-sprinters, and that longer forefoot bones correlated with higher sprint performance in sprinters. To further understand the superiority of long forefoot bones in athletic performance, we examined whether forefoot bone length was associated with running performance in endurance runners. The length of the forefoot bones of the big and second toes were measured using magnetic resonance imaging in 45 male well-trained endurance runners and 45 male untrained subjects. After normalization with the foot length, it was found that the forefoot bones of the big and second toes were significantly longer in endurance runners than in untrained subjects (P<0.05 for both). Furthermore, longer forefoot bones of the big toe, but not of the second toe, correlated significantly with better personal best 5000-m race time in endurance runners (r=−0.322, P=0.031). The present findings demonstrated that forefoot bones were longer in endurance runners than in untrained subjects. These findings were similar to our findings for sprinters. In addition, we found that longer forefoot bones may be advantageous for achieving higher running performance in endurance runners.

 
  • References

  • 1 Baxter JR, Novack TA, Van Werkhoven H, Pennell DR, Piazza SJ. Ankle joint mechanics and foot proportions differ between human sprinters and non-sprinters. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279: 2018-2024
  • 2 Bezodis NE, Salo AI, Trewartha G. Modeling the stance leg in two-dimensional analyses of sprinting: inclusion of the MTP joint affects joint kinetics. J Appl Biomech 2012; 28: 222-227
  • 3 Carrier DR, Heglund NC, Earls KD. Variable gearing during locomotion in the human musculoskeletal system. Science 1994; 265: 651-653
  • 4 Gottschalk FA, Sallis JG, Beighton PH, Solomon L. A comparison of the prevalence of hallux valgus in three South African populations. S Afr Med J 1980; 57: 355-357
  • 5 Harriss DJ, Macsween A, Atkinson G. Standards for Ethics in Sport and Exercise Science Research: 2018 Update. Int J Sports Med 2017; 38: 1126-1131
  • 6 Hatala KG, Dingwall HL, Wunderlich RE, Richmond BG. Variation in foot strike patterns during running among habitually barefoot populations. PLos One 2013; 8: e52548
  • 7 Ivy JL, Costill DL, Maxwell BD. Skeletal muscle determinants of maximum aerobic power in man. Eur J Appl Physiol 1980; 44: 1-8
  • 8 Krell JB, Stefanyshyn DJ. The relationship between extension of the metatarsophalangeal joint and sprint time for 100 m Olympic athletes. J Sports Sci 2006; 24: 175-180
  • 9 Kulmala JP, Korhonen MT, Ruggiero L, Kuitunen S, Suominen H, Heinonen A, Mikkola A, Avela J. Walking and running require greater effort from the ankle than the knee extensor muscles. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2016; 48: 2181-2189
  • 10 Lee SS, Piazza SJ. Built for speed: Musculoskeletal structure and sprinting ability. J Exp Biol 2009; 212: 3700-3707
  • 11 Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, Daoud AI, D'Andrea S, Davis IS, Mang'eni RO, Pitsiladis Y. Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners. Nature 2010; 463: 531-535
  • 12 McDonald KA, Stearne SM, Alderson JA, North I, Pires NJ, Rubenson J. 2016; The role of arch compression and metatarsophalangeal joint dynamics in modulating plantar fascia strain in running. PLoS One 2016; 11: e0152602
  • 13 Midgley AW, McNaughton LR, Wilkinson M. Is there an optimal training intensity for enhancing the maximal oxygen uptake of distance runners?: Empirical research findings, current opinions, physiological rationale and practical recommendations. Sports Med 2006; 36: 117-132
  • 14 Nilsson J, Thorstensson A, Halbertsma J. Changes in leg movements and muscle activity with speed of locomotion and mode of progression in humans. Acta Physiol Scand 1985; 123: 457-475
  • 15 Novacheck TF. The biomechanics of running. Gait Posture 1998; 7: 77-95
  • 16 Nunns M, House C, Fallowfield J, Allsopp A, Dixon S. Biomechanical characteristics of barefoot footstrike modalities. J Biomech 2013; 46: 2603-2610
  • 17 Rusko H, Havu M, Karvinen E. Aerobic performance capacity in athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 1978; 38: 151-159
  • 18 Saunders PU, Pyne DB, Telford RD, Hawley JA. Factors affecting running economy in trained distance runners. Sports Med 2004; 34: 465-485
  • 19 Smock AJ, Hughes JM, Popp KL, Wetzsteon RJ, Stovitz SD, Kaufman BC, Kurzer MS, Petit MA. Bone volumetric density, geometry, and strength in female and male collegiate runners. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 2026-2032
  • 20 Stearne SM, McDonald KA, Alderson JA, North I, Oxnard CE, Rubenson J. The foot's arch and the energetics of human locomotion. Sci Rep 2016; 6: 19403
  • 21 Stefanyshyn DJ, Nigg BM. Mechanical energy contribution of the metatarsophalangeal joint to running and sprinting. J Biomech 1997; 30: 1081-1085
  • 22 Tanaka T, Suga T, Ohtsuka M, Misaki J, Miyake Y, Kudo S, Nagano A, Isaka T. Relationship between the length of the forefoot bones and performance in male sprinters. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2017; 27: 1673-1680
  • 23 Tenforde AS, Barrack MT, Nattiv A, Fredericson M. Parallels with the female athlete triad in male athletes. Sports Med 2016; 46: 171-182
  • 24 Ueno H, Suga T, Takao K, Tanaka T, Misaki J, Miyake Y, Nagano A, Isaka T. Relationship between Achilles tendon length and running performance in well-trained male endurance runners. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2018; 28: 446-451
  • 25 Vincent WJ. Statistics in kinesiology. Northbridge, USA: Human Kinetics; 1999
  • 26 Wager JC, Challis JH. Elastic energy within the human plantar aponeurosis contributes to arch shortening during the push-off phase of running. J Biomech 2016; 49: 704-709
  • 27 Wakahara T, Ema R, Miyamoto N, Kawakami Y. Increase in vastus lateralis aponeurosis width induced by resistance training: Implications for a hypertrophic model of pennate muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 2015; 115: 309-316